The timely deployment of the Ecuadorian delegation, led by the Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade, Investments and Fisheries together with the Foreign Ministry and the National Chamber of Aquaculture achieved the lifting of the suspensions imposed by the General Administration of Customs of China GACC to Ecuadorian shrimp exporting companies: Industrial Pesquera Santa Priscila and Empacreci, which were announced on July 10th.
To reverse this suspension, Ecuador proposed to Chinese Customs authorities to carry out virtual inspections to restricted areas and verify their procedures. According to the Minister of Production, Foreign Trade, Investments and Fisheries, Iván Ontaneda, this was the way to achieve the lifting of the suspension imposed to 2 of the 3 companies banned from exporting “Virtual revisions were made in their facilities; processing plants and ports where shrimp is pre and post-boarded, showing that the product complies with the biosafety protocols that the international market demand. However, the sanction for the Ecuadorian company Edpacif still needs to be lifted, as indicated by José Antonio Camposano, Executive President of the National Chamber of Aquaculture “The work has not stopped, the sanction to a last Ecuadorian company still needs to be lifted” he also stated that it has been proven that Ecuador meets high biosafety standards, which makes Ecuadorian shrimp a healthy and safe product for all consumers.
Ecuador plans to sign a memorandum of understanding with China, in order to formalize the safety and biosafety protocols that are met for exporting shrimp to this destination, the final version of the document will be approved by both countries and will be made official in the coming days. Once the protocol is approved, the Ecuadorian authorities will begin inspections of the establishments to verify their compliance.
The National Chamber of Aquaculture ratifies its support for Ecuadorian shrimp exporting companies and recognizes the effective management of the Ecuadorian government to meet the requirements of the Chinese Customs authorities, to restore the export of Ecuadorian establishments to China, taking into account that Santa Priscila, Empacreci and Edpacif represent 25% of shrimp exports, according to CNA data.
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