Quanzhou Daily, April 25 — (IReporter Liu Wenyan, Correspondents Wei Yuxi and Wang Fengping) Recently, under the supervision and clearance of Quanzhou Customs, a shipment of 1,508 boxes (totaling 300,000 pieces) of codfish "roses" (frozen, ready-to-cook fish paste products) produced by Shishi Xin Chang Yi Food Technology Co., Ltd. was successfully exported. This marks the first export of decorative, ready-to-cook foods from Fujian Province—achieving a milestone of "zero breakthrough." It also represents a new success for Quanzhou Customs in promoting the integration of domestic and international markets for "Quanzhou-flavour" foods and expanding their reach overseas.

The first batch of premium codfish "roses" ready for export. (Photo by Chen Rongxu)

Quanzhou Customs officials inspect the first batch of exported codfish "roses." (Photo by Chen Rongxu)

　　"The unit price of these exported codfish 'roses' is more than three times that of conventional frozen cod, serving as a valuable example for the deep-processing seafood industry. It has greatly boosted our confidence in exploring international markets," said Ye Lifang, General Manager of Shishi Xin Chang Yi Food Technology Co., Ltd. with great enthusiasm. "Southeast Asian Chinese communities are eager to try hometown delicacies, and now we can't even meet demand. We are currently processing export orders from customers in Malaysia and Vietnam, and we have an additional 1 million 'roses' in production!"

　　Xin Chang Yi Food Technology Co., Ltd. is a newly registered seafood processing and export company this year. The company developed the codfish "rose" frozen product—crafted from codfish paste into a lifelike rose shape—primarily for use as a premium ingredient in banquets and restaurants. As soon as the product was launched in the domestic market, its visually appealing design and delicious taste quickly made it a bestseller. It also caught the attention of overseas Chinese communities looking to bring "Quanzhou flavours" abroad. This batch is destined for high-end international restaurants, with strict requirements for product quality, safety, hygiene, cold-chain logistics, storage conditions, and clearance timelines. Given the company's lack of export experience, there were concerns about meeting delivery schedules.

　　Understanding the company's needs, Quanzhou Customs established a dedicated task force to guide the company in setting up a food safety and hygiene control system centered on hazard analysis and preventive measures. They also helped improve documentation and traceability of imported codfish raw materials and conducted comparative studies on target market standards. The company adopted production formulas that meet both domestic and export destination standards, ensuring compliance with relevant food safety requirements. Meanwhile, Quanzhou Customs implemented a "green channel" for local inspections, ensuring immediate inspection and rapid clearance for the exported codfish "roses." This eliminated waiting times at customs and helped the company swiftly capture opportunities in the international market for decorative, ready-to-cook foods.