Slippery as an eel but exports resume to Japan

CHINA has resumed exports of grilled eels to Japan after a four-month suspension triggered by reports saying banned drugs had been found in the fish.

Inspection and quarantine authorities in south China's Guangdong Province, the country's leading eel exporter, said exports to Japan resumed in mid-November. In addition, several Japanese importers had visited the province over the past two weeks to place orders.

Chinese grilled eel products were taken off Japanese shelves in July amid concerns about the use of antibiotics and some banned substances, said Huang Weiming, Guangdong inspection and quarantine bureau vice director.

He said Guangdong had not received a single order for grilled eel from Japanese importers over the past four months.

Many Japanese love grilled eels from China. They make up about 80 percent of the market and are sold at prices 40 percent cheaper than similar Japanese products, Huang said.

The bureau sent an investigation team to Japan and South Korea last month. The trip aimed to exchange views with representatives from the Japanese fishery industry association and the country's press to clarify misunderstandings about Chinese products, he said.

During the visit, the Japanese expressed a willingness to enhance communication with the Chinese side to remove misunderstandings and end the trade impasse that had been detrimental to both sides.

Huang said joint meetings would be held between Japanese eel importers and exporters from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan. "The outlook of Chinese eel exports is quite optimistic."