A 3-kilogram live lobster from Australia was intercepted in the luggage of an airline passenger by the Ningbo Exit-Entry Inspection and Quarantine Bureau in East China's Zhejiang province. (Photo/caijing.com.cn)
(ECNS) -- A 3-kilogram live lobster from Australia was intercepted in the luggage of an airline passenger by the Ningbo Exit-Entry Inspection and Quarantine Bureau in East China's Zhejiang province, caijing.com.cn reported on Monday.
Inspection personnel said they found the lobster with the help of sniffer dogs. The traveler said he spent 500 euros ($545) on the delicacy and planned to bring it to China to share with his family and friends.
The lobster was later autoclaved and destroyed under the supervision of inspection and quarantine officials, the report said.
According to China's list of prohibited animals imported from other countries, all live animals except dogs and cats are prohibited from entering the country. The ban includes all mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles, insects or other invertebrates and genetic material.
With the accelerating pace of global economic integration, the threat of introduced biological exposure has become severe with the potential for serious negative impacts on economic development and ecological protection, the bureau said.
Passengers planning to travel with live animals should supply a quarantine certificate issued in the country of origin and apply to China's General Administration of Quality Supervision to obtain approval, it was added.
