Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Kingdom lifts ban on frozen items shipped in from India

Kingdom lifts ban on frozen items shipped in from India

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
The Kingdom has lifted a ban on the import of frozen meats and other frozen items classified as ‘high-risk’ originating from India. AFP

Kingdom lifts ban on frozen items shipped in from India

Cambodia has lifted a ban on the import of frozen meats and other frozen items classified as “high-risk” originating from India, amid recent improvements in the South Asian country’s epidemiological situation and as all samples of frozen meat imports have tested negative for the novel coronavirus.

An explosion in cases linked to new variants of SARS-CoV-2 reported by India in April-May – averaging between 300,000 and 400,000 a day – prompted the Kingdom to impose the ban on May 1 in an attempt to stave off the spread of the virus and its more troublesome mutations.

While the ban may have been scrapped, a couple of temporary safeguards have been introduced as part of Covid-19 response efforts, which may affect imports from every source, according to a June 19 letter from the General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia (GDCE).

One key measure outlined by the GDCE is the requirement of additional certificates or confirmation letters issued by the competent authorities of the places of origin that declare imports of frozen meats and other “high-risk” frozen items to be free of SARS-CoV-2.

Before completing customs clearance for entry into the Kingdom, authorities will take samples of these items to be tested for the virus by the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, the GDCE said.

“Depending on updates and developments, enforcement of the two requirements may be relaxed or stopped entirely, based on improvements in the situation surrounding the Covid-19 outbreak in the exporting country, and if the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge’s test results of frozen meat consistently turn out negative,” the letter said without elaborating.

The devastating second coronavirus wave that plunged India into arguably the world’s worst health crisis since the start of the pandemic, however, is gradually showing signs of abating.

On June 19, India logged 58,588 new Covid-19 cases, bringing the total to 29,881,352, with 386,740 deaths, according to the Worldometers website.

The decision to end the ban comes in response to a plea made by Indian ambassador to Cambodia Devyani Khobragade during a meeting with Minister of Economy and Finance Aun Pornmoniroth on June 3.

Khobragade stressed that the ban had dented Cambodian business confidence in India, at an especially sensitive time when the two countries are trying to negotiate a free trade agreement (FTA).

The Kingdom is working closely with Jakarta-based Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) on a feasibility study of the merits of a bilateral FTA with India, Ministry of Commerce spokesman Pen Sovicheat told The Post on February 25.

The ambassador’s request came amid concerns that the ban would stall the expected growth of buffalo meat imports from India in 2021, which began the year on strong footing, reaching $9.32 million in just the first two months.

This is more than 52 per cent of the $17.7 million recorded for the whole year 2020, which was over 170 per cent higher than the $6.4 million logged in 2019. Buffalo meat imports accounted for 12.28 per cent of bilateral trade between Cambodia and India, according to embassy statistics.

MOST VIEWED

  • Tensions high ahead of historic Kun Khmer match up

    The long-awaited November 5 matchup between Kun Khmer legend Prum Samnang and Myanmar-Canadian boxer Dave Leduc has become the most anticipated fight of the year. The Wurkz Sena Kun Khmer promotion, which will be held at the Town Arena at Chip Mong 271 Megamall, will see six

  • Manet: Cambodia safe for travel

    Prime Minister Hun Manet acknowledged that Cambodia and China have cooperated to tackle internet scamming, fraud and other cross border crimes, but insisted that the “Kingdom of Wonders” is completely peaceful and safe. He welcomed tourists to come and explore its rich heritage. During a

  • UNESCO formally list Battambang gastronomy

    Battambang, renowned for its cultural heritage, has achieved a significant milestone as the first Cambodian municipality to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). The UCCN unites nearly 300 cities prioritising creativity and cultural industries in local development plans and international cooperation. On World Cities Day,

  • Kep selected for ‘world-class’ 2.7km beach development

    Kep province has been selected as the first site of a new coastal development initiative, with a “world-class” 2.7km beach planned for the near future. The Kep Provincial Administration met with the National Committee for Coastal Management and Development to discuss the development of the

  • Cambodia pivots to solar, wind energy

    Cambodia is planning a move towards solar and wind energy to meet its rising power demands, according to Minister of Mines and Energy Keo Rottanak. On the sidelines of the Singapore International Energy Week event held recently, Rottanak emphasised the urgency of diversifying Cambodia’s

  • Angkor causeway symbol of Cambodia-Japan ties

    In a historic moment marking another milestone in the 70-year-long diplomatic relations between Cambodia and Japan, King Norodom Sihamoni celebrated the formal inauguration of a causeway located to the west of the world-renowned Angkor Wat. While presiding over the November 4 ceremony, the King emphasised the