China monitors Faroese salmon production via video

Last week’s discovery of coronavirus particles on a chopping board of a seller of imported salmon at a Beijing wholesale seafood market has caused alarm across China.

This has led to Chinese food authorities ramping up their efforts to assess the precautionary measures taken by food exporters across the world.

As part of this drive, the Chinese authorities yesterday inspected two Faroese salmon production factories, Bakkafrost in Vágur, Suðuroy, and Luna in Sørvágur, Vágar, via video link.

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“Chinese consumers have grown suspicious of imported foods, and these new measures are part of an effort by the Chinese food authorities to restore the consumers’ faith in imported foods,” says Bjørg Mikkelsen, a biologist at the food department of the Faroese Food and Veterinary Authority.

The Faroese chief medical officer was present at the factory visits, as the inspection was primarily aimed at scrutinising staff procedures and not a food safety inspection as such.

According to Mikkelsen, the Chinese food authorities have a high degree of trust in the Faroese food authorities.

“This trust is crucial as it speeds up the approval process significantly.”

Translated by prosa.fo