Beijing orders importers to avoid frozen food from countries with major coronavirus outbreaks

Authorities in the Chinese capital Beijing have ordered importers to avoid frozen food from countries suffering severe coronavirus outbreaks after several incidents of imported seafood testing positive for the virus. According to a statement from the Beijing Municipal Commerce Bureau, "customs and local governments have repeatedly detected the coronavirus in imported cold chain food, proving it risks contamination."

The bureau urged importers to closely monitor the pandemic situation around the world and "take the initiative to avoid importing cold chain foods from areas severely hit by the pandemic." Companies are also instructed to improve their warnings and reporting mechanisms, and to inform authorities quickly if products test positive.

Health authorities, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have said the possibility of catching the coronavirus through food is low, but China, which has largely stamped out domestic transmission of the virus, is on high alert for possible re-contamination.

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