China has recently allowed five more Bangladeshi firms to export edible aquatic animals to China.
With the new ones, a total of eight enterprises have been given permission to export edible aquatic animals from Bangladesh to China.
Export consignments of edible aquatic animals, including live crabs and eels, to China are not allowed without 'clinical compliance certification' by the state veterinary office, according to a protocol prepared by a Chinese authority.
According to the Bangladesh mission in Beijing, the General Administration of China Customs (GACC) has recently contacted the mission regarding the five newly-registered firms.
GACC sent a letter to the Bangladesh embassy in Beijing informing the latter about the new registration following a video inspection of the enterprises conducted by the Chinese agency in November 2021, according to a letter of the Bangladesh mission sent to the Department of Fisheries and the ministry concerned.
GACC conducted a video inspection of eight enterprises in order to decide which firms to be allowed exporting aquatic animals to China. After assessment, the five were selected.
GACC urged the Bangladesh authorities to strengthen supervision of the export items and to implement various epidemic prevention systems in the export process, added the letter.
Earlier, the Chinese authorities prepared a protocol in this regard.
Under the protocol, the fisheries and livestock ministry is responsible for the inspection and quarantine of edible aquatic animals to be exported to China and the issuance of health certificates.
"The edible aquatic animals shall be examined clinically by an official veterinarian before export and confirmed to be healthy, and that no clinical symptoms of contagious diseases are found and they are suitable for transportation," read the protocol.
China had earlier imposed a ban on import of live mud crabs and eels from Bangladesh since, the Chinese authorities said, harmful bacteria were found in some consignments along with forged certificates.
Some firms allegedly submitted such papers to the Chinese authorities while exporting crabs and eel fish.
The Chinese authorities found the presence of contaminated substances, estradiol and cadmium in particular, beyond the acceptable limit for human health.
Live mud crabs and eels are usually exported by air. Currently, such aquatic animals are being exported to China.
The volume of export of eels and crabs to China was over Tk 2.33 billion in the 2019-20 fiscal year.
China is Bangladesh's largest trade partner with annual bilateral trade of over $13 billion.
In the fiscal year 2018-19, Bangladesh imported goods worth $12 billion from China, as against exports valued less than $1.0 billion to China.
