China's top quality watchdog has issued a ban on imports of hog and pork products from Mexico and three US states, with the aim of preventing the swine flu that broke out earlier in Mexico from entering China.

In an online statement, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (GAQSIQ) said related imports from the US states of Texas, Kansas and California were affected by the move.

Shipments of hog and pork sent immediately following the ban will be returned or destroyed. Shipments already on their way before the ban will be inspected for the H1N1 virus, the statement said.

The GAQSIQ issued an emergency notice on Saturday, requiring people to report flu-like symptoms at the point of entry when returning from the affected regions.

In light of the outbreak of swine flu in Mexico, China's Ministry of Health also issued a notice on Sunday about disease prevention and detection, warning citizens to be careful.

Although there is no vaccine yet, the disease is preventable, controllable and treatable, it said.

As of Monday morning, no cases of the illness had been reported in China.

(Xinhua News Agency April 28, 2009)