China Enforces Old Residue Rules

VANCOUVER - Jun 1/06 - SNS -- China relies on imports to cover most of its field pea requirements, but new standards for maximum levels of selenium, lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, aluminum, and other food contaminants is interfering with exports from Canada and the United States.

Effective October 1, 2005, China published and put into effect a new national standard Maximum Level of Contaminants in Food (GB 2762-2005). The standard stipulates the maximum levels of selenium, lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, aluminum, and other food contaminants.

The maximum level of selenium in cereals is 0.3mg/kg. The maximum level of selenium is unchanged and has been in place since 1991, notes the U.S. agricultural attache for China.

In March of 2006, the Chinese General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) issued a warning notice on imported dry peas from Canada and the United States.

According to the notice, the selenium content in two U.S. shipments of dry peas exceeded the maximum level. The notice required China Inspection and Quarantine (CIQ) officials to strengthen the inspection of imported dry peas and to deny entry to those shipments with a content exceeding the maximum level of selenium.

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