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As the PRC dismantles it’s zero-COVID policy measures, there is great optimism about the economy and, particularly, the HRI sector. Stakeholders expect a rebound in travel to fuel recovery in hotels, restaurants, and other outlets.

On December 28, the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) published Announcement No. 131 of 2022, indicating a change in classification of COVID-19 controls and management was forthcoming. The Announcement states...

On September 23, 2022, the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) published 2022 Special Announcement Number 88 amending the customs clearance declaration requirements for importers or consignees of non-cold chain products to require a declaration on whether “preventive disinfection has been implemented” (according to the “Standards for On-site Disinfection Evaluation During the COVID-19 Epidemic” (WS/T 774-2021).

A recent industry survey in one of China’s leading provinces for textile and apparel manufacturing highlights the negative impact of the PRC’s zero-tolerance COVID policy in the world’s largest cotton market and area economy. According to survey results, production estimates are down, costs are higher, and deliveries are delayed.

At a recent Beijing municipal press conference, authorities announced that effective April 1, 2022, imported cold-chain food products will be rejected if shipped into Beijing without prior inspection appointments at a Beijing Entry Checkpoint.

On January 30, 2022, China's State Council released two updated technical guidelines for preventing and controlling COVID-19 in cold-chain food.

On June 27, 2021, the South African government announced that the country would be under a heightened, level 4 lockdown as a result of the rise in COVID-19 infections and the increase in hospital admissions.

On June 27, 2021, South Africa re-introduced the prohibition of the sale, dispensing and distribution of liquor products for 14 days due to the recent surge in COVID-19 infections. This is the fourth ban on liquor products since the start of...

The partial and full lockdowns implemented globally including in Southern Africa to address COVID19, severely disrupted the movement of people and agricultural trade in 2020.

Effective January 27, 2021, Guangzhou became the latest city to implement requirements for imported frozen food to pass through and test negative for COVID at a ‘centralized supervision warehouse’...

On December 28, 2020, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a total ban on the sale of alcohol from stores, restaurants and bars until January 15, 2021, except in the case of exports...

On August 18, 2020, the city of Shenzhen in South China imposed new COVID-19 handling and testing requirements for imports of frozen meat and seafood.