Zhongshan Customs has carried out comprehensive supervision measures for meat rice dumplings as they are high-risk and sensitive commodities. [Photo by He Xueyan]

A batch of meat rice dumplings for the Dragon Boat Festival were successfully exported to Macao via Hengqin Port on the morning of June 4 from Zhongshan Mingyue Food Co Ltd located in Sanxiang. According to Zhongshan Customs, from April 25 to the end of May, a total of 3.5 tons of meat rice dumplings, worth about 650,000 yuan, has been supplied to Macao from Zhongshan after inspection and quarantine .

According to Feng Yun, an official representative of Zhongshan Customs, Zhongshan companies mainly exported veggie rice dumplings before, owing to the short shelf life and high requirements on cold-chain transportation of meat rice dumplings. But this year, local companies improved their technologies and exported meat rice dumplings for the first time. There are two main kinds of meat rice dumplings exported. One is filled with cereals and bacon, the other is filled with dried scallops and yolks, both of which are traditional Zhongshan flavors.

Meat rice dumplings are considered as high-risk and sensitive commodities because of the pork ingredient. In this case, Zhongshan Customs has carried out comprehensive supervision measures, optimized the food inspection and quarantine process, and further reduced the customs clearance time to make sure the fresh rice dumplings could appear on the market. "Generally, freshly-made rice dumplings can be brought to Macao people's dining table the same day," said Feng Yun.