The Chinese market will open to Chilean avocados and shelled walnuts, as well as beef, lamb and mutton, over the course of the next few months.
The agreement was struck by Chile’s Minister of Agriculture, Luis Mayol, following years of negotiations with China’s phytosanitary agency, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ).
“China needs these foods and Chile can produce and export them,” explained Minister Mayol in a press release from the Chilean Ministry of Agriculture (Minagri).
At the special ceremony held on 7 June in Beijing, China, the authorities from both countries also signed agreements to authorise electronic certification in order to expedite the export process and to avoid fraud.
In a further move, Minagri and AQSIQ, supported by the Chilean Fresh Fruit Exporters Association (Asoex), also signed a bilateral fruit cooperation agreement, initially for a four-year period, to address issues of mutual interest in the fruit sector.
Under the deal, the two phytosanitary agencies will work together on issues such as facilitating new access for Chilean fruits in China, resolving logistical challenges within the supply chain, and reviewing technical aspects, such as defining quarantine areas in the event of a fruit fly incident, among others.
The agreement also includes an action plan between the Chile’s Agriculture and Livestock Service (Sag) and AQISIQ aimed at enhancing technical cooperation between the two countries' phytosanitary agencies, and establishing regular bilateral technical visits, seminars and specific studies amongst other initiatives, with the objective of strengthening the presence of Chilean fruit in China.
“This agreement is unprecedented as it is the first agreement of its kind that Chinese authorities subscribe with a third country,” pointed out Ronald Bown, chairman of the board at Asoex.
“This is also another demonstration of the excellent relations that have been forged over many years between the two countries. It is also an example of how a coordinated effort between the public and private sectors in Chile has generated mutual benefits for the country and in this opportunity, for the nations fruit industry.”
Opening new markets represents an important part of Chile’s strategy to diversify its fruits exports and boost the sector’s competitiveness, according to Asoex.
Chile already has access to China for its apples, kiwifruit, table grapes, plums, cherries and blueberries.
Once avocados enter the market, Asoex said the final negotiations will immediately start for entry authorisation for Chilean nectarines.
Next season Asoex will also continue to promote Chilean cherry sales in China through a coordinated effort between the Chilean Cherry Committee, the Embassy of Chile in China, Chiles Export Promotional Bureau (ProChile) and the Ministry of Agriculture.
According to Asoex, in 2011/12, fresh fruit shipments from Chile to the Asian region marked an increase of 10.9 per cent to 380,718 tonnes, up from 344,006 tonnes in 2010/11.
During 2011/12, the main destination markets in Asia were Hong Kong, with 101,778 tonnes and mainland China with 66,842 tonnes, both representing 45 per cent of all Chilean fruit exports to Asia.
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