European Union veterinary experts recommended on Wednesday that the 15-nation bloc lift some of its restrictions on imports of animal products from China, the European Commission said.


The bans were imposed in January after traces of a powerful antibiotic, chloramphenicol, were found in the Chinese imports. The antibiotic was banned in Europe in 1994 and outlawed in China in 2000.


The proposed relaxation of the ban concerns gelatine and certain types of fish and seafood processed at sea and exported without passing through Chinese territory, the Commission -- the EU's executive arm -- said.


But it said sanitary tests would continue to be performed until the end of September on certain imports when they reached the EU, namely the processed fish.


As well as banning imports of Chinese gelatine, processed fish and seafood in January, the EU placed restrictions on Chinese poultry, rabbit and honey. These latter bans will remain in place, the Commission said.