Beijing’s Xinfadi market, the large wholesale market that closed in early June after a COVID-19 cluster was linked to it, resumed wholesale operations on Saturday with strict safety measures implemented.
More than 1,000 trucks delivered some 13,000 tons of fruits and vegetables to the 112-hectare market on Saturday, about 60 percent of its normal transaction volumes for fruits and vegetables.
The market will be fully operational by September 10, according to Zhou Xinchun, deputy head of the Fengtai District, where the market is located.
To ensure safety, the wholesalers are required to register and make appointments on the markets’ WeChat public account and must also upload quality and origin certificates of their products.
People entering the market must pass facial recognition checks and have their temperature tested at the entrance. Trucks go through a weigh bridge to facilitate volume calculation of goods.
The market has ceased its retail business and closed doors to individual consumers, and all sellers and buyers are required to complete real-name authentication before entering the market, said Zhou.
A 1,000-square-meter retail vegetable market has been set up outside the wholesale market to meet the demands of nearby residents.
“Food inspection in the market has been strengthened and efforts will be made to facilitate merchants’ application for business licenses and other related procedures. Epidemic prevention measures like environment testing and sampling will be reinforced,” said Zhou.
The market has been divided into different areas according to the business category and trading function, meaning partitioned management.
In the upgraded Xinfadi wholesale market, the buyer and the seller enter and exit through different channels, while vehicles are now parked in different zones.
“The environment has been greatly improved and upgraded. Many buildings with potential safety hazards have been demolished and all standing buildings have been painted,” said Zheng Dehou, a wholesaler.
