China slams EU food ban

The EU has imposed a ban on poultry meat from China after traces of banned substances were found by an EU mission

BEIJING, China -- Beijing has slammed the ban by the European Union on some Chinese food products as "unacceptable", and warned of serious trade fallout as a result.

In a statement, the European Commission said it would ban poultry, rabbit meat, and frozen shrimps and prawns from China on health grounds.

The action stems from a report by an EU mission sent to China last November, that said traces of banned veterinary medicines, including Chloramphenicol, were found in samples of shrimps and prawns.

Chloramphenicol is a powerful antibiotic, which has been banned for use in food-producing animals in the EU since 1994.

Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC) spokeswoman Gao Yan decried the decision as "unfair" and "unacceptable."

"The report took a part for the whole and exaggerated the gravity of certain issues," Gao was quoted by the state-run Xinhua news agency as saying.

CNN.com Asia More news from our Asia edition

Gao said the decision violated EU procedural rules and also went beyond technical areas, which was unfair to China's trade sector.

She also criticized the EU for acting on the report without first consulting China.

"As a member of the World Trade Organization, China will respond to the EU's act in accordance with WTO rules," she said.

Beijing successfully entered into the WTO in mid-December.

Trade fallout

Gao urged the EU to promptly withdraw its "wrong decision" if it wanted to avoid a trade fallout with China. She also urged negotiations between the two sides be held to solve the problem.

The EU Commission meanwhile expressed eagerness to iron out any differences with China and ensure smooth trade ties.

"The commission intends to work urgently with the Chinese authorities with a view to putting in place the necessary measures to allow trade to resume," the EU statement said.

The EU added it would review the situation with EU member states before the end of February "in the light of any further information offered by the competent Chinese authorities" and by possible follow-up EU inspections.

The Standing Veterinary Committee, which gives expert advice to the EU's executive branch on food safety, voted in favor of the ban.

It will be put into force next week through a formal commission decision.

Spared from the ban will be open-sea fishery products, except crustaceans.