(Yicai Global) July 16 -- The outer packaging of frozen whiteleg shrimp imported from Ecuador has turned up positive for coronavirus in multiple locations in China. Ecuador has assured China it will institute "necessary procedures" to ensure the safety of its exports, the South American nation’s foreign minister said.

Chongqing, Dalian, Xiamen and Customs in various other Chinese cities had reported positive results for the coronavirus nucleic acid testing on outer package samples of the Litopenaeus vannamei -- also known as Pacific white shrimp or king prawn -- from Ecuador as of yesterday, the Global Times reported the same day.

China suspended three Ecuadorian frozen shrimp firms’ qualifications to register in the country and import their products starting July 10, and will return or destroy all shipments seized, the General Administration of Customs announced.

Zhejiang province had recalled and sealed up 77,812.08 kilograms of the Ecuadorean crustaceans as of July 11, per public reports.

Guangdong province had halted sales and sealed up around 82.3 tons of the frozen arthropods after investigation as of July 14, and conducted 1,041 targeted nucleic acid tests on people, products and environment, all of which came back negative.

Editor: Ben Armour