China lifts soft cheese ban
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Fans of soft cheeses in China have reason to celebrate after the country reversed a ban on mould-ripened cheeses, allowing imports of Camembert, Brie and Roquefort, European Union officials said Monday.
From early September, businesses in the country were forbidden from importing cheeses made with certain moulds and bacteria.
The ban was lifted following meetings last week between European Commission representatives and Chinese quarantine and health officials, the EU’s China delegation said in a statement.
The National Health and Family Planning Commission issued a note to customs authorities clarifying that bacterial cultures used for the production of these cheeses were not harmful to consumers’ health, thus allowing trade to resume, according to the delegation.
The statement added that China’s cheese quality standards are “outdated,” and the delegation and French embassy will organize a seminar with Chinese experts to “(limit) the risk of such events re-occurring in the future”.
Axel Moreaux, manager at French restaurant Paradox in Beijing, celebrated the news.
“The ban was in place for a short time, so it hasn’t affected our business. Now we can go ahead as normal,” he told.
“It’s a real relief,” said Vincent Marion, co-founder of Cheese Republic, one of China’s leading online cheesemongers.
“It is now written in black and white that this category of cheese is legally importable. So it is very positive for the French and European dairy industry,” Marion said.
The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China previously said efforts were underway to revise China’s national food safety standards for cheese.
It is unclear why the ban was put into place.
China has seen a series of scandals over food safety but Western products are widely seen as made to higher standards.
Dairy products are not a typical part of a Chinese diet, but in recent years cheeses such as mozzarella have become popular as more Chinese hanker after Western dishes such as pizza.
Strongly flavored mould-ripened cheese is usually only available at restaurants and markets that cater to foreigners.
Questions & Answers
Q.What was the reason for the initial ban on soft cheeses?
What was the reason for the initial ban on soft cheeses?
The article states that businesses were forbidden from importing cheeses made with certain moulds and bacteria. However, it also mentions it is unclear why the ban was put into place initially.
Q.Which specific types of cheese were affected by the import ban?
Which specific types of cheese were affected by the import ban?
The ban specifically affected mould-ripened cheeses, with Camembert, Brie, and Roquefort mentioned as examples that are now allowed for import once more.
Q.What is being done to prevent similar bans on cheese imports in the future?
What is being done to prevent similar bans on cheese imports in the future?
The delegation and French embassy will organise a seminar with Chinese experts to limit the risk of such events re-occurring. Efforts were also underway to revise China’s national food safety standards for cheese.
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