The working visit of the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) to China has literally borne fruit. After several years of negotiations, the “Protocol of phytosanitary requirements for export of fresh apples from Belgium to China” was signed by the FASFC with the Chinese General Administration of Customs (GACC). This protocol sets out the phytosanitary conditions that Belgian apples must meet in order to be exported to China. The first exports are expected at the earliest during the next growing season.
The FASFC visited China this week. On the one hand, China offers significant export opportunities for our Belgian businesses, and on the other, the FASFC ensures that Chinese products imported into Belgium meet our strict requirements regarding food safety, animal health and plant health.
The signing of the protocol on the export of Belgian apples is a concrete result of this visit. It is now up to the fruit sector to comply with Chinese requirements so that apples can be marketed in China as early as the next growing season. This protocol marks the official conclusion of the intensive negotiations between the FASFC and the GACC, which began in 2019 at the request of the Belgian fruit sector.
David Clarinval, Minister for Agriculture: “This historic agreement is excellent news for our farmers and our fruit sector. China represents an enormous market, and I have been working with my administration for years to open up concrete outlets there. I congratulate the FASFC on the work accomplished and I encourage the sector to prepare now to seize this opportunity.”
Christine Romeyns, Chief Executive Officer of the FASFC: “The signing of this protocol is an important and long-awaited step for our fruit sector. It is the result of several years of patient work and dialogue with our Chinese partners. It opens up concrete prospects for our producers, while reminding us that this opportunity comes with high requirements: orchards will need to be registered before exports can begin. Through this breakthrough, we are building a sustainable and credible access to this strategic market.”