The inspectors from the AQSIQ ( Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine) concluded their visit to the Chilean nectarine industry last Friday by having a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Furche. In the meeting, the Chinese delegation made some observations on their visit and said they felt optimistic that nectarine exports would begin very soon.
Producers expected that shipments would be authorized during the inspectors visit to the country but the delegation didn't have the power to authorize them so they must await for the AQSIQ in China to make a final decision after they receive the final report of the inspectors, which was submitted today at the headquarters of AQSIQ in Beijing.
The Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Furche, sent a letter to the head of AQSIQ in China with the goal of speeding up the procedures, bearing in mind the approach of the Chinese New Year on January 28.
The visit
The inspectors began their visit on Monday, January 16. The delegation was led by the Deputy Director of the AQSIQ. The delegation visited nectarine orchards and packing facilities to verify that they complied with the procedures agreed by both countries.
The visit was coordinated by the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) and Chile's Fruit Exporters Association AG (ASOEX).
The Chinese delegation was made up of the Deputy Director of the Animal and Plant Quarantine Supervision from the AQSIQ, Li Yijuan; the Assistant Director of the CIQ (China Inspection and Quarantine) Division, Haiyan Dang, the Section Chief at Tianjin CIQ, Liu Dong, and Yu Haixin, an Agronomist from Jiangsu CIQ.
The inspectors arrived in Chile on Sunday 15, where they were received by representatives of SAG and ASOEX. On Monday, January 16, the inspection team officially met with the director of the SAG, Angel Sartori, and then visited orchards and packing plants in the metropolitan region, specifically in the area of Viluco. On Tuesday they continued to conduct inspections in the area of Maipo.
On Wednesday, the Chinese professionals went to the O'Higgins Region, where they met with regional officials of the SAG, toured orchards, and packing plants in Mostazal. The inspection team toured the VI Region until Thursday, and concluded their visit on Friday, January 20, with a final meeting.
It's worth noting that ASOEX, the Minister of Agriculture, and the SAG took various measures to accelerate the visit of the Chinese inspectors to Chile so that the country could start shipping this fruit to China. The visit is over and now the country awaits for the final decision of the Chinese health entity.
China granted the opening of its market to Chilean nectarines on October 25, 2016, and it was signed off during the visit of President Xi Jinping in December.
Data
According to data from ODEPA, Chile accounts for 8% to 9% of global nectarine sales and over 80% of its exports are to supply northern hemisphere countries.
ASOEX statistics indicate that Chile exported 57,421 tons of fresh nectarines to different target markets during the 2015-2016 season, almost 2% more than in the previous season.
The main destinations are the US-Canada, which received 25,223 tons last season. They are followed by the Latin American market, with 12,720 tons, Europe with 9,992 tons, and the Far East with 9,482 tons.
Source: simfruit.cl