context: Beijing has long regarded frozen food imports as a major vector of virus transmission. With the Delta variant now spreading in China, public attention has again been drawn to the safety of cold chain logistics. Authorities responded by updating cold chain regulations and ramping up local pandemic prevention and control measures.
On 13 Aug 2021, Ministry of Transport (MoT) updated its COVID-19 technical guidelines for the handling and management of frozen food imported by land or by sea. The updated guidelines strengthen earlier pandemic prevention and control measures in a number of areas, including
- stricter management of cold chain workers by
- enforcing vaccination of personnel
- strengthening worker protection measures
- setting up special shift systems with enclosed accommodation to avoid contact with family members and other social groups during the working period
- better health monitoring of cold chain workers, including
- regular testing (once a day for staff directly handling imported frozen food; twice a week for all others)
- setting up of a daily health monitoring system
- strengthened disinfection and cleaning measures for imported food packaging, storage rooms and vehicles
According to CCTV News, new Delta variant outbreaks have seen national authorities ramp up pandemic control measures along highways, road checkpoints and in ports to prevent the spread of the virus through transport links.
In the meantime, local governments have strengthened food traceability and the monitoring of food markets. Speaking at a press conference on 11 August, Tang Yunhua 唐云华 Beijing Municipal Administration for Market Regulation deputy director said that the city would further roll out its traceability platform for frozen food imports and strengthen control and testing of cold chain workers in wholesale markets, supermarkets, shopping malls and in the catering industry. Individual restaurants, supermarkets and wholesale markets that had failed to comply with health management and storage regulations received a warning from the authorities.