COVID-19 RECOVERY UPDATE

16th June 2020

You are receiving the COVID-19 Recovery Update as you have subscribed to the STAG mailing list.  This update is produced for Australian seafood exporters, containing important updates and informal translations of news from Asian and foreign media.  Any information provided as part of this service is general in nature. Before acting on any information provided, you should consider its appropriateness to your circumstances and business objectives.

Potential China inspection delays due to Beijing COVID19 outbreak

You have probably heard of a situation unfolding in Beijing in relation to a spike in new COVID-19 cases and that COVID has been detected in the Xinfadi Seafood Market in Beijing. This market has subsequently been shut down, along with other wet markets . There has also been some speculation via the media this outbreak may be linked to imported salmon.

The STAG is monitoring the situation and has received some reports that live seafood shipments from Australia have been detained for 36 hours pending product testing.  Some importers are also talking about cancelling orders fearing potential further market shutdowns.  So we can keep monitoring the situation, please let us know at admin@seafoodtradeadvisory.com if you are experiencing any delays and/or cancelled shipments.

In the meantime, here is some background as to what is unfolding in Beijing from a series of informal translated Chinese media articles, along with one article from the EU (Article 8).  Key messages from the source articles are:

1. An increase in COVID-19 affected patients has been reported (45 cases).
2. The Xinfadi Seafood Market has been tested and inspected.
3. Equipment used to cut salmon has been tested for COVID-19. The origin and how the virus has spread has not been confirmed officially.
4. The Beijing government has restarted its comprehensive control system as undertaken two months prior to ensure the safety of its citizens and requires anyone who has had contact with Xinfadi Seafood Market to be tested as soon as possible.
5. All citizens that live close to Xinfadi Seafood Market are currently being tested
6. All schools in Beijing that were to return to school yesterday (Monday 15th June) have been cancelled.
7. Specialists have confirmed the salmon products in question do not meet the requirement of the virus-host as the products have been chilled or frozen but they cannot ensure transportation, workers or any other method is the reason for the spread.
8. As a precautionary measure, all salmon products have been recalled and removed from shelves.
9. The Beijing government has tested all four seafood markets’ products, and only Xinfadi Seafood Market has tested positive (on equipment). The government is focusing on "dirty" seafood wet environments and quickly requires all markets to be cleaned and disinfected.
10. Rapid inspection of imported seafood has been carried out from last weekend, and all seafood products need to be tested and spot-checked. GACC is currently under serious pressure.

Official newspaper and media articles as the source of the above key messages can be found here:

1.   On the 13th June, 45 patients have tested positive to COVID that have had a history or close contact with Xinfadi Seafood Market with no travel history.

http://weibointl.api.weibo.com/share/152991369.html?weibo_id=4515319774083648

2.  Four confirmed patients all worked for Xinfadi Seafood Market.

http://weibointl.api.weibo.com/share/152992238.html?weibo_id=4515314060253398

3. Salmon chopping boards have been tested for COVID-19, which was confirmed had COVID-19 virus present.

http://weibointl.api.weibo.com/share/152992663.html?weibo_id=4515289091430070

4.       China Daily: All salmon products in Beijing have been removed.

http://weibointl.api.weibo.com/share/152992549.html?weibo_id=4515286999711761

5.       Virus specialist: It is not salmon’s fault, but we encourage to eat salmon only after cooking.

http://weibointl.api.weibo.com/share/152992857.html?weibo_id=4515334965831286

6. CCTV: Beijing government will test all 46,000 citizens who live close to Xinfadi Seafood Market. As of 15th June, over 10,000 samples have been collected, 5,803 results have come back negative.

http://weibointl.api.weibo.com/share/153332220.html?weibo_id=4515792970681160

7.       Council of State: Testing and thorough disinfection actions taking place

http://weibointl.api.weibo.com/share/153332482.html?weibo_id=4515815078300967

8.       Disease Control Expert: The virus is different compared to the previous one in China.  The gene sequence shows it has come from the EU, with the spread method not confirmed. 

http://weibointl.api.weibo.com/share/153342594.html?weibo_id=4515805683603729

http://weibointl.api.weibo.com/share/153258780.html?weibo_id=4515670051862495

9.       China News interview to Disease Control Expert: Be careful and eat cooked not raw food. The origin might not be the food but be careful of imported food. Low temperatures will make the virus live longer. COVID-19 will not spread seriously in Beijing again under our control.

http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2020/06-15/9212353.shtml

10.     Seafood industry media: No confirmed evidence about virus related to salmon directly!

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/pUgxDEESADTVudZ_lwrt6Q

11.    Don’t ruin the salmon industry with the rumour!

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/9fe-R6MYVu5WjKPY12jrQw

Department Market Access Advice (MAA)

The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment has issued a market access advice (MAA) on the matter.  Click here to download

STAG Bulletins are available at http://www.seafoodtradeadvisory.com

STAG COVID-19 UPDATES are a resource for Australian seafood exporters.The Seafood Trade Advisory Group receives funds from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.  The Fisheries Research and Development Corporation plans, invests in and manages fisheries research and development throughout Australia. It is a statutory authority within the portfolio of the federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, jointly funded by the Australian Government and the fishing industry.