China raided and tested VER virus, why was the export of live grouper fish blocked in Taiwan?

The number of live groupers exported from Taiwan to China has been declining year after year. According to statistics from the Customs Department, about 3711 metric tons were exported from January to March 2018, leaving only 2478 metric tons in the same period of this year. The output value dropped sharply by more than 430 million yuan. In early March, it was reported that a farm in Kaohsiung exported live groupers to China. However, because viral brain and retinal virus (VER) were detected at Xiamen Customs, China refused to import them. In addition to stopping the farm's qualification, We will also increase the sampling rate of VER virus imported from Taiwan to 30%. I am afraid that the export volume of live grouper in the second half of the year will be affected.

Gao Huanglin, deputy head of the animal quarantine group of the Bureau of Prevention and Inspection, said that in the past, the mainland of China only required to add health safety and other conditions, and did not require quarantine certificates to test negative results for specific viruses; The incident occurred in March, and so far no documents have been received from Chinese officials to increase quarantine conditions. At this stage, fishermen can only be encouraged to inspect at their own expense to avoid being blacklisted at the port.

Adult fish VER virus with unidentifiable original appearance encourages operators to conduct self-inspection to avoid obstruction of export to China

Gao Huanglin explained that viral brain and retinal virus (VER) can cause brain and retinal lesions in grouper fry, but not every fish with virus will develop disease, the mortality rate is high in the larval stage, adult fish influence is less, so it is impossible to judge whether the original is carried from the appearance and activity of adult fish.

Gao Huanglin further points out that export quarantine control is generally carried out in accordance with the quarantine conditions set by the importing country."Since the importing country has not requested it, the exporting country has no obligation to help him test it." For example, when grouper larvae are imported to Vietnam, the importing country requests testing for viral brain and retinal virus (VER). The Bureau of Disease Control and Inspection will test them batch by batch, and the test results will be negative before they are allowed to be exported. The sudden sampling of VER at the Chinese port is not in line with the usual practice,"but this is also their right and can only be respected."

At this stage, because the inspection ratio at the port has been increased, the Bureau of Prevention and Inspection and the Fisheries Department have held a meeting and decided that the Fisheries Department should compile a list of fish farms that voluntarily quarantine, and the operators should inspect them at their own expense. Quarantine officers of the Bureau of Prevention and Inspection can be present to take samples and assist in sending them to the livestock testing center for inspection. The inspection results will be available in about a week."If it is negative, you can rest assured that you can go, but if it is positive, you have to consider it yourself. Although the Bureau of Prevention and Inspection will not stop you, if you are sampled at the port, This may increase the sampling rate and affect the entire industry." Gao Huanglin said.

In the past, the export of live spotted adult fish has not been inspected. There are no other cases in the city.

Lin Congjun, head of the inspection team of Kaohsiung City Animal Protection Department, said that because VER has little impact on adult fish, in the past live grouper export quarantine will not specially inspect this item. The city industry speculates that the sudden tightening of port control by China is due to the fact that China has already supplied more live groupers than it needs, so it is necessary to protect the domestic industry. In early March, Kaohsiung City's Animal Protection Department invited the Bureau of Animal Control and Inspection and the Animal Testing Institute to the Yongan District Fishery Association to handle virus prevention and control. The animal medicine seminar also contacted the fishing pond for further assistance. So far, no news has been received that other operators have been stopped at the port.