Protocol signed after years of negotiations and first shipments expected next season
The Belgian apple industry has celebrated its latest trade breakthrough, securing access to the China market.
Belgium’s Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) has announced it signed a new protocol with China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC), paving the way for shipments to commence at the beginning of the next growing season.
According to a report from Belga News Agency, the agreement is the result of years of negotiations and was signed during a working visit by the FASFC to China. The protocol lays out the phytosanitary conditions Belgian apples must meet before they can be sold on the Chinese market. One key requirement is that orchards must be registered before exports can begin.
Christine Romeyns, managing director of the FASFC, said the protocol was “an important and significant step for our fruit sector” and “the result of several years of patient work and dialogue with our Chinese partners”. She stressed the attached conditions were strict and that it was now up to the fruit sector to meet them.
Federal agriculture minister David Clarinval welcomed the news unreservedly. He described it as a “historic agreement” and “excellent news for our farmers and our fruit sector”.
Clarinval congratulated FASFC on its work and urged the apple industry to “to start preparing now to seize this opportunity” in China.
Marc Evrard, commercial director of major topfruit exporter Belgian Fruit Valley (BFV), told Fruitnet he was cautiously optimistic about the market prospects for Belgian apples in China.
”China is a very competitive market where apples are offered from all corners of the world,” he noted. “BFV’s years of marketing expertise in China with Belgian pears under our Truval brand gives us an excellent platform to differentiate ourselves. Choosing the right varieties for the Chinese market will be crucial.”
