BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese customs seized 172 types of pests across 7,942 interceptions in the first two months of 2021, a 40.41 percent year-on-year surge in the number of interceptions, the General Administration of Customs (GAC) said on Thursday.

Customs conducted video inspections of overseas companies that export fruits to China and revoked the qualifications of 245 relevant enterprises in the first two months of the year, according to the GAC.

The administration has also strengthened overseas pre-inspections for animals entering China, as part of strict quarantine and control measures.

The GAC said it has issued 14 notices involving 12 countries and regions, prohibiting imports or tightening inspections of relevant products to prevent and control major animal and plant epidemics including desert locusts, African swine fever and the highly pathogenic avian influenza. Enditem