U.S. Customs seized more than 260,000 pounds of banned food! All from China!

It is learned that according to foreign media reports, in the first quarter of fiscal year 2022 (October to December 2021), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials seized a total of 262,237 pounds (118,949 kilograms) of prohibited foods from China at the Los Angeles-Long Beach Port, including pork, chicken, beef and duck products, an increase of 33% over the same period last year.

Reports of prohibited meat products from China rose significantly in fiscal year 2021, during the pandemic, with CBP seizing 786,514 pounds (356,757 kg) during that period, an unprecedented 80% year-over-year increase.

"As the largest seaport in the United States, the Los Angeles-Long Beach Seaport plays an important role in preventing the introduction of foreign infectious animal diseases and noxious pests," said CBP Officer Carlos C. Martel. "CBP will continue to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the private sector to protect the United States from a variety of foreign pests."

According to the report, when undeclared or prohibited animal products are intercepted, CBP will issue an emergency action notice to destroy the cargo. From October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021, CBP officers issued a total of 1,256 emergency action notices (EANs) at the Los Angeles-Long Beach Port, an increase of 52% year-on-year; 166 major incident reports, an increase of 50% year-on-year.

According to the USDA, China is a country affected by African swine fever (ASF), classical swine fever (CSF), virulent Newcastle disease (vND), foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), and swine vesicular disease (SVD).

CBP officials said most of the uninspected food from China is shipped to the United States through e-commerce orders, and it is clear that criminals are trying to smuggle banned meat.

Donald R. Kusser, port director of the Los Angeles-Long Beach Seaport, said unregulated animal products from China are in high demand, and smugglers are trying to move these products into the United States for profit with no regard for consumer safety or potential harm to agriculture.

CBP claims that foreign products affected by ASF will introduce the virus into the United States, paralyzing the domestic pork industry and the $6.5 billion worth of U.S. pork exports each year. Therefore, CBP will work to identify, intercept and seize these prohibited items.

Editor ✎ Nicole/

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