May 23, 2014

China Lifts Ban on Live Shellfish Imports from West Coast and Alaska
Today, Chinese food safety officials advised NOAA that they are lifting their ban on
imports of live shellfish, including geoduck clams from Alaska and Washington State.
China's letter, dated May 23, 2014, cited the value of the discussions held in China
with NOAA and embassy officials this past March and highlighted their satisfaction
with the information the agency provided following that meeting. Specifically, the
Chinese stated that the Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) monitoring and testing and
new methods for sampling, surveillance and monitoring of inorganic arsenic proposed
by the United States meet Chinese food safety requirements. The letter also
reiterated their plans to send a team of food safety officials to the United States this
fall for meetings, including further discussion and evaluation of the plan for inorganic
arsenic monitoring and testing
NOAA officials will continue to work with federal and state food safety and health
officials, our tribal co-managers, industry, and others to finalize the arsenic sampling,
surveillance, and testing methods that must be implemented in the United States
before trade with China can resume. NOAA remains committed to the resumption of
trade with China as soon as the plan for inorganic arsenic testing is implemented and
health certificates can be issued.