China, where one in two containers in the world transit, is upping its anti-Zika measures in a move that could slow down supply chains in and out of the world’s manufacturing powerhouse.
In a note to clients German containerline Hapag-Lloyd reveals Chinese authorities have updated the number of origin countries for boxes which will face “anti-mosquito treatment” on arrival at ports in the People’s Republic. China has been instituting anti-Zika virus measures since June.
All shipments from the countries listed at the end of this article shall be subject to anti-mosquito treatment. Inbound shipments without proof of anti-mosquito treatment will be fumigated at the port of discharge in China by the authorities without prior notice.
It is the consignee’s responsibility to inform the shipper at origin to provide a certificate proof of treatment before loading.
Hapag-Lloyd warned customers the carrier is not involved in this procedure and all relevant costs as a result of required measures by the authorities shall be borne by the customer.
China has always been a quick and overarching reactionary to any virus that sweeps across the world, perhaps best exemplified by its reaction to the SARS virus 13 years ago.
Countries of origin for boxes facing anti-mosquito treatment in China:
American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Belize, Barbados, Bolivia, Bonaire, Brazil, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, French Guiana, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Martinique Island, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Samoa, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Lucia, Saint-Martin, Saint Martin Island, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Salvador, Suriname, Thailand, The Commonwealth of Dominica, Tonga, The United States Virgin Islands, Trinidad, Tobago, The Bolivarian republic of Venezuela, The British Turks and caicos islands, United States of America, the Philippines, The Federated States of Micronesia and Vietnam.
