Coronavirus live updates: China requiring 'virus-free' declaration on all international imports

China is tightening its import standards after a coronavirus outbreak at a food market - but Australia insists we're not the ones to blame.

China will now require proof from the rest of the world that any food or agricultural products entering the country is COVID-free.

 

Australia is one of the countries that will now be required to attach a Letter of Guarantee declaring all food and imports coming into China are COVID-free.

The move from China comes after an outbreak at Xinfadi wholesale food market in Beijing.

While the request is not specific to Australia, the Australian government has since advised China of its incredibly high food standards and told producers not to sign the letter.

Federal Agricultural Minister David Littleproud reminded the world of our high food standards.

"With the COVID-19 pandemic, our food production and distribution chains have stepped up and lifted their standards even higher," Mr Littleproud told the ABC.

Meat and Livestock analyst Simon Quilty said it was important to remember that there was little research to show coronavirus was transmitted on food or drink.

"The US Center of Disease Control and WHO have both come out saying that frozen and fresh meat is not a transmitter of COVID-19," Mr Quilty told the ABC.

"Just to further push that point, Chinese authorities then conducted 100,000 tests last week across Beijing and the rest of China on imported meat — all found to be negative.

"Within their own country there's probably the issue of the outbreak in Beijing and the need to, I guess, save face and seen to be doing something."

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Victorian chief medical officer, professor Brett Sutton, said a man in his 80s died from the disease overnight. His death brings the total number of deaths in Victoria to 20 and the national total to 103. It is first death linked to the virus in Australia since May 23.

Ten new coronavirus cases have also been recorded in NSW in the past 24 hours, however all of them are returned travellers in hotel quarantine.