中國解除乳酪進口禁令

China has lifted a ban on imports of Mould-ripened cheese after lobbying from the EU, causing jubilation among the country’s mostly expatriate consumers of Brie, Camembert and Roquefort.

經歐盟(EU)遊說後，中國解除了對黴菌成熟乾酪的進口禁令，使得中國境內以外籍人士爲主的布里白乳酪(Brie)、卡芒貝爾奶酪(Camember)及羅克福乾酪(Roquefort)的消費者一片歡騰。

The restrictions on mould-ripened varieties began in Shanghai in late July before spreading to other cities. They also ruled out imports of Italian Gorgonzola, apparently on the grounds that bacteria in the products could be harmful to health.

對黴菌成熟乾酪品種的禁令於今年7月下旬在上海出臺，隨後蔓延至其他城市。中國政府還禁止了意大利戈爾貢佐拉奶酪(Gorgonzola)的進口，理由是產品中的細菌可能危害健康。

The ban was lifted following meetings between European Commission staff and Chinese quarantine and food safety officials “allowing trade to resume immediately”, the EU’s China delegation said in a statement. It described China’s cheese standards as “outdated”, adding the EU delegation and the French embassy in China would organise a seminar with Chinese cheese experts “thus limiting the risk of such events re-occurring in the future”.

歐盟駐華代表團在一份聲明中宣佈，歐盟委員會(European Commission)的工作人員與中國負責檢疫與食品安全的官員們舉行了多次會談後，對黴菌成熟乾酪的禁令被解除，“使得貿易立即恢復”。該聲明形容中國的乳酪標準“過時”，並補充道，歐盟駐華代表團和法國駐華大使館將與中國的乳酪專家們舉辦一個研討會，“從而降低此類事件在將來再次發生的風險”。

China imported more than $400m of cheese last year, mostly varieties such as mozzarella destined for use in pizzas. Dislike of strongly flavoured varieties in China means mould-ripened cheese is mostly consumed by foreign residents.

去年中國進口了逾4億美元奶酪，大部分是馬蘇裏拉奶酪(mozzarella)等用於製作披薩的品種。中國人不喜歡重口味的奶酪，因此黴菌成熟乾酪的主要消費者是外籍人士。

China-based cheese importers and restaurateurs welcomed the repeal. “Although this should never have happened?.?.?.?we are very happy,” said Axel Moreaux, who operates five French restaurants in Beijing and Shanghai.

中國的奶酪進口商和餐廳老闆們對這項禁令的撤銷表示歡迎。“雖然這從來不該發生……但我們十分高興，”在北京和上海經營着5家法式餐廳的阿謝爾?莫羅(Axel Moreaux)說。

Others saluted the efforts of diplomats. “I would like to congratulate the French embassy in China, as well as Great Britain’s, for their success,” Shanghai-based importer Cheese Republic said in an online post.

其他人則向外交官們付出的努力致敬。“我想向法國駐華大使館及英國駐華大使館的成功表示祝賀，”上海經銷商“芝士共和國”(Cheese Republic)在網上的一個帖子中說。

Zhi Shuping, the head of China’s top quarantine agency, denied the existence of a nationwide ban after the EU delegation publicly complained about it in September.

中國國家質量監督檢驗檢疫總局局長支樹平否認存在一個全國性的禁令，此前歐盟代表團在9月份公開抱怨過此事。

“It’s great, its result of a struggle,” said Han Jin, the general manager of Shanghai Roria, a food import company, adding that importers were still confirming the situation. “We’ve heard the news from the EU, but to be honest as of now I don’t think anyone has dared to try to importing.”

“這很了不起，是鬥爭的結果，”從事食品進口業務的上海榮悅貿易有限公司(Shanghai Roria)總經理韓進說，他補充說，進口商還在確認情況。“我們從歐盟聽到了消息，但說實話，我認爲眼下還沒人敢嘗試進口。”