Shandong sanctions 14 firms for seafood cold-chain COVID-19 transgressions

Authorities in Shandong, a key seafood production and processing region, have named and shamed 14 enterprises for not following rules on cold-chain management of imported seafood.

The 14 firms, which include distributors, warehouse management, and catering firms, have now been closed for an indefinite period for “rectification,” according to a statement from the provincial market supervision regulator.

A statement issued by Shandong’s food safety authorities said the companies were guilty of non-compliance with a rule requiring firms to place all shipments in a municipal warehousing and COVID disinfection and testing procedure. 

China’s seafood distributors have become increasingly frustrated by mandatory duplicative testing. Most Chinese cities require imported chilled and frozen foods to go through a "centralized supervision warehouse" within the particular city before being sold into the local market –even though the products would have gone through similar controls at ports on arrival in the country. Costs for warehousing and testing are borne by the importers or distributors.

On 30 January, 2022, China’s State Council updated two technical guidelines for cold-chain operators for preventing and controlling COVID-19. The document, officially titled “Technical Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Novel Coronavirus in Cold-Chain Food Production and Operation and the Cold-Chain Food Production and Operation Process Covid Control and Disinfection,” set guidelines for seafood suppliers, logistics operators, and seafood vendors.

The new guidelines call for stricter monitoring and testing of cold-chain workers, as well as vaccine requirements and detailed procedures for the nucleic acid testing of packaging on imported seafood products.

Photo courtesy of Jenson/Shutterstock