Argentine Foreign Ministry speeds up shrimp exports to China

Following joint actions carried out by the Argentine Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Agro-Industry and SENASA, the technical body of the People’s Republic of China responsible for health matters (NHFPC) has approved an amendment to its food additives regulation, which will make it possible to overcome obstacles encountered by Argentine exports of shrimps, squids, and crabmeat since 2014.

This measure extends authorization for the use of eight additives, including sodium metasulphite, in both fresh and frozen fish products. Before the amendment, the food preservatives regulation used to cause great uncertainty among Argentine exporters over potential border rejections. It is worth mentioning that the use of sulphites in shrimps and squids is necessary to prevent them from turning black, there being no alternative additive in the market.

In this regard, the Secretary for International Economic Relations, Ambassador María Cristina Boldorini, stated that “the Chinese government’s decision responds to the request for an urgent solution that we made, on behalf of the fishing sector, at the 20th Meeting of the China-Argentina Joint Committee, held on 11-12 July in Beijing”.

In 2015, the Chinese market shrimp demand totalled USD 440 million, of which USD 137 million was covered by imports of Argentine products.

Press Release No. 264/16
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