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China

Mandatory Carton Labeling Begins November 1

The new Chinese meat and poultry labeling regulations will be implemented from November 1 requiring exporters from all countries to affix a bilingual label on each carton of fresh, chilled or frozen raw meat and poultry exported to China.  As we reported on October 17, USMEF has designed a suggested label for exporters to model their new labels on to conform with the new bilingual label regulation. Exporters must choose either “Keep refrigerated” or “Keep frozen.” The product name must also be in Chinese. Exporters should consult their importers or refer to USMEF’s International Meat Manual, which is available online at USMEF’s Web site (/TradeLibrary/InternationalMeatManual.asp). The International Meat Manual includes the most commonly produced beef and pork cuts in the Chinese language.

The label can be accessed at http://www.usmef.org/Misc_News/02_1011_DailyNews_China.doc. According to discussions USDA/Beijing has had in recent days with Chinese quarantine authorities, whose local inspectors will enforce the rule, China will provide an unspecified grace period for strict enforcement of the new regulation. China posted the new requirement on its website in mid-August. USDA continues to protest the regulation that will require exporters to have printed bilingual labels on each carton of meat shipped to China by April 1 next year. 

Any exporters and/or their import agents and importers experiencing clearance difficulties due to the new labeling regulations should contact Paul Clayton in the USMEF Denver office (pclayton@usmef.org or 303-623-6328).

Click for USMEF Annual Board of Directors Meeting Information, Registration Form, Sponsorship Form and Thank You to Sponsors; November 6-8, 2002 - Long Beach, California