Shenzhen new benchmark for cold-chain import oversight

Shenzhen, Guangdong province, is taking the lead in using a centralized supervisory warehouse for imported cold-chain foods in a bid to strengthen supervision, curb the risk of COVID-19 infections and ensure smooth and efficient circulation of goods.

Specifically, all frozen and chilled meat and aquatic products imported through Shenzhen are required to pass through the new warehouse and undergo packaging disinfection as well as nucleic acid tests. The whole life cycle of imported frozen foods will also be traced.

"As the pandemic broke out overseas, cases of COVID-19 were found on packaging of imported frozen foods in some places in China. Therefore, holding a defensive line against imported cold-chain foods has become crucial to pandemic prevention and control. Shenzhen, as a megacity with over 20 million people, has huge demand for imported foods. To safeguard the public, the defensive line must be firmly built and strictly upheld," said a spokesman from the Shenzhen Municipal Administration for Market Regulation.