Messrs. Kelaham Wood and Paul F, two specialists from the Seafood Product Inspection Team of the European Union, conducted a full day inspection in Zhanjiang yesterday. Main focus of the inspection was about the fishing and hatching industries of seafood products in Zhanjiang including areas like the whole production chain of seafood products, applicable laws and regulations as well as facilities like laboratories, processing factories, aqua-cultural farms and fishing vessels etc.

Accompanying yesterday by government officials including Mr. Chen Ye De, the Assistant City Mayor of Zhanjiang, Mr. Ma Yin Yu, the Assistant Chief of the Guangdong CIQ and Mr. Wu Chun Gin, the Chief of the Zhanjiang CIQ, the Inspection Team had visited two factories in Zhanjiang, namely, Allied Pacific Aquatic Products (Zhanjiang) Co., Ltd and Hengxing Company as well as the CIQ offices. During the visit, the Inspection Team had inspected the production lines and its management system. Main focus was in regard to raw material, water, ice as well as the quality control system implemented in regard to production process and the quality control of raw material and finished products. They had also conducted random inspection of the related documentation in the two factories. Supplemented with questions and answers, the Inspection Team had gained a good understanding in regard to the manner of implementation of the quality control system in the two factories as well as the related monitoring control imposed by the CIQ Authority. All documentation provided by the factories were in good order and all questions from the specialists of the Inspection Team were answered accurately and in a timely manner. At the end of the inspection, Allied Pacific Aquatic Products (Zhanjiang) Co. Ltd. and the Zhanjiang CIQ Authority Bureau were highly praised by the Inspection Team.

The Inspection Team was very satisfied with the result of the inspection although they said the inspection contents might not cover all aspects for the short period of time. Special credits were given to Allied Pacific Aquatic Products (Zhanjiang) Co. Ltd. Even though Allied Pacific inspection was done under the circumstances of no advance notice, it was the Inspection Team opinion that Allied Pacific result was a lot better than the other 2 to 3 factories which had been given prior notices of the inspection. At the same time, the Inspection Specialists also had provided advices to certain minor defects which were noticed in the factories.

The Inspection Specialists also spoke highly of the work of Zhanjiang CIQ. They were of the opinion that Zhanjiang CIQ monitoring works were very comprehensive and were effectively exercised.

Statistics show that the total import and export trade volume between Zhanjiang and the European Union in 2004 was at a total of US$21 million, a growth of 12% compared to a year earlier. European Union already has become Zhanjiang third largest trade partner. Since the announcement of European Union decision on July 16, 2003 to uplift their import bans on animal sourced food products from China including shrimps and hatched fishes etc, several seafood products processing factories in Zhanjiang have been accredited with the European registration. However, none has yet started its exports to countries of the European Union. It is believed that this inspection trip shall open up a new prospective and exporting to European Union can finally come true.