Circular - Covid-19 protocols by Stake holders dt 05-09-2022 (Format- PDF, Size- 464 KB)

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----- Start of picture text -----<br> AeoM ee,<br>&.imat<br>Vee)<br>----- End of picture text -----<br>

THE MARINE PRODUCTS EXPORT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY KOCHI -682 036

File No: QC-QP/CHI/1/2019-QC Dated : 05.09.2022

CIRCULAR

It is informed that after span of 2 months GACC has reported 2 detections of COVID-19 nucleic acid material in seafood consignments exported to China. Since the fishing bans are over, many of the units will be shipping sea caught items to China. Aquaculture material exports also happen actively. Though GACC has lowered the guard on COVID-19 safety protocols, it may be noted that China continues to exercise strict vigil over SARS Cov-2 nucleic acid monitoring, and hence the exporters may be repeatedly advised to continue to implement COVID safety protocols in their units and proper disinfection measures may be adopted as advised by MPEDA to eliminate the risk of detection of COVID-19 nucleic acid material in their consignments. They may also continue to check the effectiveness of these protocols through verification samples tested for COVID-19 nucleic acid in the products and packaging at MPEDA Microbiology lab.

All seafood units exporting to China in your region may be suitably informed that once Covid-19 nucleic acid is detected in their consignment they will have to successfully pass the video inspection by GACC within 2 weeks or face suspension coming out of which has been proven to be time consuming and may lead to severe monetary loss due to loss of a large market.

It is also noted that of late, GACC has instructed by EIC to suspend exports from a particular unit to China because of large number of non compliances observed during the virtual inspection by GACC. Many of those observations were on the basic needs as far as Covid-19 protocols and food safety management systems are concerned. Hence, field offices shall be more diligent in preparing the units for inspection by GACC as we have more virtual inspections lined up in the coming weeks.

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----- Start of picture text -----<br> NBS ,<br>. RAM MOHAN M k)<br>JOINT DIRECTOR (QC)<br>----- End of picture text -----<br>

For circulation: All RDs & SRDs of MPEDA