China yesterday expressed "serious concern" about the European Union (EU) Commission's decision to ban poultry meat, rabbit meat and frozen shrimps and prawns from China.

"Without soliciting China's opinions, it is unjust and unreasonable to make such a decision unilaterally and based only on a research report," said Gao Yan, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC).

She accused the European Commission's action of running counter to its own procedure orders, saying it seriously affected China-EU trade relations.

"We urge the EU to lift this erroneous decision immediately to avoid lasting damage to the sound development of China-EU economic and trade relations," said Gao, noting China is committed to resolving problems through bilateral consultations.

Gao said the report was lopsided and exaggerated the severity of the problems, saying China will react in accordance with the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The Standing Veterinary Committee, which gives expert advice to the EU's executive branch on food safety, voted on Friday in favor of the ban, which will be put into force this week through a formal commission decision.

According to the EU statement, it was taking action after an EU mission to China last November found problems related to the use of banned veterinary medicines, but no detailed evidence was given.

In past years, China and Europe have maintained rapid growth in economic and trade co-operation. Bilateral trade volume reached US$69 billion in which China exported US$38.1 billion, according to China's official statistics.

In 2000, the EU imported 327.7 million euros' (US$288.4 million) worth of the products listed in the ban from China. These included poultry meat, rabbit meat, honey, mollusks, crustaceans such as frozen shrimps and prawns, and pet food, according to the EU.

(China Daily January 28, 2002)