China lifts ban on fishery imports from Indonesia

Beijing (ANTARA News) - China has lifted its ban on Indonesian fishery imports after its General Administration for Quality Supervision Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) had ascertained that fish processing procedures in Indonesia meet its standards.

"The AQSIQ has notified the Indonesian embassy in Beijing that as of February 4, they have lifted their temporary ban on fishery imports from Indonesia," deputy chief of mission at the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing, Mohammad Oemar, said here Tuesday.

The notification means that effective February 4, all fishery products from Indonesia can enter the Chinese market, he said.

The decision to lift the ban was made after AQSIQ officials observed fish processing procedures in Indonesia in January 2008.

The decision to lift the import ban was the result of the AQSIQ officials` visit to Indonesia recently, in addition to negotiations that took place between Indonesia and China, Oemar said.

China, on August 3, 2007, imposed a temporary ban on fishery imports from Indonesia after AQSIQ found that some of the Indonesian products did not meet safety standards for consumption.

During the ninth meeting of the Indonesia-China Joint Commission in Shanghai in October 2007, the import ban was discussed by Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Pangestu and her Chinese counterpart, Bo Xilai.

At the meeting, Bo Xilai said the Chinese Trade Ministry (MOFCOM) was committed to helping Indonesia overcome the quarantine problem faced by its fishery exports to China.

His ministry, Bo Xilai said, had conducted a series of intensive meetings with AQSIQ to discuss the ban, and sought a solution so that the ban could be lifted.

Oemar expressed hope that Indonesian fishery producers and exporters would take the opportunity to return to the Chinese market and improve the quality of their products.