chinese import regime including quarantine and testing procedures for fish in july 2015 norway expressed concern about chinas new import control regime for seafood from norway which included extensive testing for u to 40 substances. as a result the costs for importers and exporters were increased and products were kept in quarantine for a longer period. however china had not notified any finding that could explain such measure. norway highlighted that the new regulation was implemented in a non-transparent and discriminatory manner since the increased testing only applied to norwegian products. furthermore since 2011 norway had repeatedly asked for consultations at technical level but this request had never been addressed. norway urged china to provide information on this new regime and on quarantine procedures in general and on all specific measures applicable to norwegian seafood. norway also requested china bilateral consultations on food safety issues relating to trade in seafood. china responded that uncompliant products had been found on several occasions and constituted a risk for consumer health. the general administration of quality supervision inspection and quarantine aqsiq had issued an announcement in 2011 to further strengthen inspection and quarantine of salmons imported from all members. china stated that these measures were not new and were based on existing chinese laws and regulations. moreover the measures were addressing the threat represented by norwegian aquatic products mentioned in several reports over the last years. china had therefore strengthened the inspection and quarantine of high risk products. norway reiterated its request for consultations with china at a technical level and informed the committee that norwegian food safety regulations were harmonised with the eu legislation and as a result were in compliance with eu requirements. in october 2015 norway raised concerns on chinas new import control regime for norwegian seafood which included extensive testing for u to 40 substances and resulted in a prolonged quarantine period for consignments and increased costs. this regime applied not only to salmon but to all kinds of seafood from norway leading to a severe reduction in trade. norway indicated that it had not received adequate information from china despite submitting several requests through various diplomatic channels over the last six months. in addition norwegian food safety authorities had not received any reports on findings that could warrant such an increase in testing. while supporting the right of members to implement food safety measures norway was of the view that the changes in import control routines had not been implemented in a transparent predictable and non-discriminatory manner. norway requested china to provide qualified information on its import control and quarantine procedure regimes as soon as possible. in depth bilateral technical consultations with china would be necessary to address the full range of food safety issues regarding seafood trade and norway was willing to work with china to address this issue. china explained that it had provided a detailed explanation and clarification during the last committee meeting and invited norway to recall the minutes of the last meeting. china further expressed its willingness to continue to work with norway on this issue.