Chilean fruit exports begin their route to China and Vietnam

The Agriculture and Livestock Service of the Chilean Government (SAG) and the Association of Fruit Exporters of Chile (Asoex) are immersed in a negotiating process to export fruit to China and Vietnam, which have already taken some significant steps. Thus, a public-private mission has approached the phytosanitary authorities of both countries to lay the groundwork for future business relationships that facilitate the entry of Chilean fruit.

The first meeting of that trade mission took place on June 14th in Beijing, China, with the sub-director and technical personnel of the Department of Animal and Plant Health and the Bureau of Food Safety of AQSIQ. This meeting was attended for Rodrigo Astete, head of the Division of Agricultural Protection and Forestry Agriculture and Livestock Service (SAG); Carlos Parra, Agricultural Attaché of Chile in China, and Miguel Canala-Echeverria, of the Fruit Exporters Association of Chile AG (Asoex) General Manager.

At the meeting, issues such as the protocol for entry to China Chilean nectarines were analyzed; the protocol for export of Chilean avocados from regulated areas to outbreaks of fruit fly; and the procedure for Chile’s exports to China through the airways combination with maritime transit through a third country. In addition, subjects concerning the incorporation of the Metropolitan and Valparaiso protocols for exports of apples and kiwis from Chile to China addressed; and exports of Chilean prunes, in the form of “natural condition”.

Regarding the protocol for entry to China Chilean nectarine, various topics related to the management of orchards and quarantine pests are agreed, for which they will work on the text of the respective agreement. In the case of the protocol for exporting avocados from Chile to China from regulated areas to outbreaks of fruit fly, were dealt aspects related with russet, washing avocados and presence in the fruit peduncle.

During this meeting, the representatives of Chile submitted for evaluation by the Chinese authorities a new logistics process for Chilean fruit exports to China, which uses a maritime-aircraft combination with transit through a third country. A proposal has the approval of the representatives of the governing body of China, pending the signature of the agreement.

Agreements with Vietnam

Three days later, the visit to Vietnam was held on June 17th, meeting the Chilean public-private delegation with representatives of Plan Protection Department (PPD), plant protection organization of that country.

This time, the national mission was integrated by Astete Rodrigo, Miguel Canala-Echeverria, Juan Enrique Moya, agricultural attaché of Chile in Indonesia, and Ricardo Rodriguez, head of the National Program Fruit Fly SAG.

At this meeting, the Chilean mission discussed technical details on the situation of the fruit fly in the country, noting that recent outbreaks in three regions would not affect Chile’s status as a free country, a fact that is recognized in much of the world .

In this framework, stages and dates in order to achieve the lifting of the restriction of import permits for Chilean fruits were established. To this end, it was agreed that Chile submit a consolidated approach to the situation of the Mediterranean fruit fly in the country during the past two years, with the goal of being analyzed by the authorities of PPD report.

Also, representatives of the PPD will visit Chile between July and August, to display “in situ” the situation and work control and containment before the end of 2016.

Meanwhile, Vietnam Plated need to advance in the process of entering the Chilean market their fruit productions of rambutan, pomelo and mango.

Source: SAG