But Kinmen County magistrate Chen Fu-hai confirmed on his Facebook page that the county government had met with Song Tao, the head of the Taiwan Affairs Office, on Sunday morning in the southeastern Chinese port city of Xiamen.
“China’s General Administration of Customs has officially authorised a customs registration code for Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor effective January 28,” he said.
Chen said that it is a “breakthrough” and a “red packet” for the Taiwan-controlled islands of Quemoy, also known as Kinmen, during the Lunar New Year period after the “continuous efforts” of Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor and the local government.
Kinmen Kaoliang is the staple export from Quemoy, but it along with a number of Taiwanese beer, liquor and seafood products were blocked from entering Mainland China.
Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Ma explained the exports had been affected because some Taiwanese companies had not registered the complete information, but that “some companies, including Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor, have recently resubmitted related information”.
Chinese customs officials introduced new regulations on food imports in 2021 and Chen Junne-jih, deputy minister of Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture, earlier alledged that officials had not approved documentation filed by exporters as requested in April 2021.
The changes included new registration, inspection and labelling requirements, but despite Taiwanese exporters filing 178 applications before the August 31 deadline, Chen said just one exporter had been approved.
Mainland China’s customs did not clear shipments of Taiwan Beer, brewed by Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor, on December 10, as the paperwork filed by Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration lacked data on ingredients and processing technology.
Taiwan’s food is exported to all over the world with high safety standards
Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration said in a statement on Monday that 879 products can be exported to Mainland China, quoting the registration website of China’s customs.
But the administration said that 211 units that have resubmitted additional information are still pending.
“Taiwan’s food is exported to all over the world with high safety standards,” the administration added.
“We expect the Mainland Chinese government to fairly handle Taiwanese food companies through maintaining normal sectoral interactions. We’ll also help the industry to export on an equal basis.”
