Associated Press

Beijing, Aug 4: China has banned all imports of aquatic food products from Indonesia after checks turned up toxins, dangerous chemicals and disease causing pathogens.

The order from China's food safety regulator said all shipments received as of Friday would be checked carefully and those found safe allowed into the Chinese market.

Shipments received after Friday would be returned or destroyed, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said in a circular posted on its website.

The announcement comes as Chinese products from toothpaste to toys, tyres and fish are under increased scrutiny and have in some cases been banned after being found tainted or otherwise unsafe.

Nerve damage

The administration said Indonesian products have been found tainted with mercury and cadmium.

These are metals that can accumulate in water and soil as a result of burning garbage, mining, or other industrial processes.

Both have been linked to nerve damage, cancer, and other health problems in humans.

It also said products had been found to contain nitrofural, an anti-bacterial agent that has been found to potentially cause cancer in laboratory animals, as well as disease-causing pathogens.

The circular did not cite any individual cases or products and did not say how much seafood is imported from Indonesia to China.