China said it will resume the import of grouper fish from a number of registered fisheries in Taiwan, ending a ban said to be due to the presence of illegal chemicals. This was reported in Taipei News on Friday 22.
Beijing introduced the ban in June 2022, causing consternation in Taiwan as the country exported 90% of its groupers to China. Both the ban and its apparent end have been interpreted as attempts by China to influence politics in Taiwan.
As a result of the ban, fisheries developed new export markets including the United States, but also increased domestic sales. The Ministry of Agriculture’s (MOA) Fisheries Agency said Friday that seven grouper farms had been allowed to resume exports to China, the Liberty Times reported.
According to MOA data, Taiwan exported 8,771 tonnes of grouper up to November, for a value of USD75.29 million (NTD2.34 billion). The figure amounted to an increase of 63% from the same period last year, with the main markets for the fish being Hong Kong, Malaysia, and the U.S.
The Fisheries Agency has tightened its supervision of the quality of the fish, to make allegations like China’s about alleged residues from banned chemicals less likely. At present, about 700 fisheries have been approved by the MOA for exports to China.
Following the announcement of the ban in June 2022, Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture (CoA) said that it would offer grouper farmers cash subsidies to promote their products in other Asian countries.
In July 2022, CoA said that there are 1,000 grouper farms in Taiwan and production was 20,000 tonnes. The Chinese General Administration of Customs had cited presence of prohibited chemicals and excessive levels of oxytetracycline allegedly found in grouper imports since December 2021.
More on Grouper in Taiwan Groupers help boost nation’s aquaculture industry – Taiwan Today
