Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council of China.

(Photo by Central News Agency)

[Central News Agency] The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council stated tonight that reports that the mainland has suspended imports of aquatic products such as Taiwan saury, saury, and squid are not true; the so-called "import ban without warning" is purely deliberate hype.

It is hoped that Taiwanese food companies will provide relevant company registration information that meets the requirements as soon as possible.

The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council of China issued a press release on "Zhu Fenglian Answers Questions from Journalists" on the evening of the 9th.

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Zhu Fenglian said that reports that the mainland has suspended the import of Taiwan saury, saury, squid and other aquatic products are inconsistent with the facts, and the so-called "serious protest" is even more unreasonable.

She said that in order to implement the "Food Safety Law" and its implementation regulations, the General Administration of Customs of the Mainland issued the "Regulations on the Registration and Management of Overseas Production Enterprises of Imported Food" in April 2021 (General Administration of Customs Order No. 284). It will come into effect on January 1st.

The regulation optimizes the registration process, implements classified management of different types of overseas production enterprises, and clarifies the main responsibility of the enterprise and the supervision responsibility of the local competent authority, which is also conducive to ensuring consumer food safety.

Zhu Fenglian said that the relevant competent authorities have notified the Taiwan side of the relevant matters and requirements through the existing communication channels, and handled the registration of Taiwan's food production enterprises exporting to the mainland in accordance with relevant regulations.

Companies that have updated their registration information as required and passed the review have maintained normal exports to the mainland.

She said that the so-called "prohibition of imports without warning" is purely deliberate hype.

It is understood that the registration information of some Taiwanese food companies exporting to the mainland is incomplete and does not meet the requirements of the mainland. The relevant competent authorities have not yet granted registration to these companies.

This is a normal food safety regulatory measure.

It is hoped that Taiwanese food companies will provide relevant company registration information that meets the requirements as soon as possible.

Chen Junji, vice chairman of the Council of Agriculture, pointed out yesterday that this incident is related to China's requirement in April last year that manufacturers from various countries exporting products to China must register in accordance with regulations.

At present, more than 100 companies have applied to export to China. The main items are squid, saury and larvae, and only one company has been approved.

The Mainland Affairs Council issued a press release last night, expressing its regret and dissatisfaction with the mainland China Customs’ suspension of Taiwan’s aquatic product imports to the mainland without warning on the grounds of registration.

He said that the Food and Drug Administration of the Ministry of Health and Welfare will continue to work with the Council of Agriculture and other relevant competent authorities to understand the relevant situation from the Chinese side, request the Chinese side to provide a reasonable explanation, and deal with the registration or supplementation of the Taiwanese industry as soon as possible, so that the products of the industry can be exported to the mainland smoothly.

The MAC pointed out that Taiwan is unwilling to speculate on whether the mainland's relevant measures will have political factors.

However, the Chinese side not only failed to complete the review due to administrative laziness, but also consistently blocked the export of products from Taiwanese companies to the mainland without first notifying them.