China Starts Intensive Testing of Imported Meat for Coronavirus
- Customs conducting nucleic acid tests on all meat shipments
- Buyers may be cautious about placing new orders for imports
Photographer: Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images
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China’s customs authorities have started testing all shipments of imported meat for the coronavirus, while officials in some major cities are also checking the products at domestic markets, after a fresh outbreak of the pathogen was linked to a wholesale seafood and meat market in Beijing.
Port authorities are conducting nucleic acid tests on all shipments of imported meat, said a trading executive with a major supplier, who asked not to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter. Customs officials have also started testing every consignment within shipments, instead of just taking some samples, he said.