SARAWAK has ordered its Veterinary Services Department to look into reports emerging from China that imported salmon is to blame for a fresh outbreak of Covid-19 cases in Beijing.

The reports have prompted a boycott of the fish in China, with salmon being taken off the shelves in major supermarkets.

State Disaster Management Committee chairman Douglas Uggah said today even though Putrajaya has yet to react to the news, he has directed the department – responsible for the issuance of fish and livestock import and export licences – to check details on the importers of the fish.

Uggah said despite taking such initial precautions, he said he did not want to act hastily until there are more developments on the issue.

Uggah added he will also discuss safety issues concerning food imports with the Food, Agriculture and Marketing Authority (Fama) and state Health Department.

Fama issues licences for vegetable imports.

“I will discuss with the state Health Department on how to monitor the situation,” he told a Covid-19 news briefing in Kuching this afternoon.

Bloomberg had reported that the fish has also been deleted from online grocery delivery platforms across China, while top Chinese experts are warning people not to consume the omega-3 rich fish.

The issue first came to light after the chairman of a major fruit and vegetable market, Xinfadi, also the site where more than 100 new virus cases were detected in Beijing, said the infections were traced to a chopping board used by a seller of imported salmon. – June 17, 2020.