During a working visit to Tokyo, Flemish Agriculture Minister Jo Brouns (cd&v) brought renewed attention to the long-standing export case for Belgian pears, reports VILT. The application, which has been pending since 2012, is currently in phase two of five, delayed in part due to Japan's strict phytosanitary requirements.
Brouns received a commitment that Japan will now prioritise the file. He aims to receive concrete feedback by the summer. The minister emphasised the importance of diversifying export markets and expressed hope for continued political support. Belgium has around 1,000 pear growers, mainly in Limburg, ready to supply the Japanese market.
On LinkedIn, Jo Brouns added: "This week, I met with the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture in Tokyo to raise the profile of Limburg pear exports once again. Japan has particularly strict import regulations for fruit, but the authorities indicated that our pear file will be treated as a priority. We hope to receive concrete feedback by the summer so we can move forward quickly!"
