Customs officers conduct on-site inspections of eels arriving in Yiwu from the Philippines on March 9. [Photo/Tide News]
Yiwu in Jinhua, Zhejiang province, received its first direct shipment of fresh ricefield eels from the Philippines on March 9, marking a milestone for the region's seafood imports.
The shipment, weighing 1.76 metric tons and packed in 59 boxes, arrived via the "Clark-Yiwu" international cargo flight, signaling the operational launch of the newly designated regulatory site for imported edible aquatic animals at Yiwu Airport, approved this past February.
This development establishes a direct "air corridor" for live seafood imports in central Zhejiang, allowing shipments to bypass traditional transit points like Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Ningbo, and arrive directly in Yiwu.
Leveraging the integrated operations of Yiwu International Land Port Group, the entire process — from inspection and disinfection to cold chain transfer — was completed within an hour, ensuring the eels reached the market promptly.
Ye Jiefang, an officer at Yiwu Customs, highlighted the establishment of a fast-track clearance channel tailored to edible aquatic imports. The system includes a pre-declaration and 24-hour appointment inspection mechanism, significantly reducing clearance times and expediting market access.
The customs regulatory site at Yiwu Airport is equipped with temporary breeding systems for imported aquatic products, featuring precise temperature and water quality controls that improve survival rates.
With six weekly flights now operating between Yiwu and the Philippines, each shipment is expected to bring approximately 5 tons of fresh aquatic products, boosting the region's supply of fresh goods.
