The National Agrarian Health Service (SENASA) reported that Peruvian citrus would have much easier access to the Chinese market after the health authorities modified the Protocol of phytosanitary requirements for citrus exports from Peru to China.
As a result of the changes made by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), which came into effect yesterday, citrus fruits such as grapefruit, orange, tangerine and hybrids, may enter the Chinese market after cold treatment against the fruit fly of 2.22 degrees Celsius for 21 consecutive days.
It's worth noting that the previous standard export only allowed a treatment of 1.11° C for 15 days or 1.67° C for 17 days.
"This increase in temperature and longer exposure time will cause less harm on the citrus' quality, thus, we expect export volumes to China will grow," stated SENASA.
SENASA added they had been working to achieve better access for the citrus fruits that were host to the fruit fly.
To do so, they stated, they were performing scientific tests and gathering data to send to China so that it could be assessed. "In the future, we hope to export these fruits at three degrees Celsius," they said.
They stressed that the improved changes for access were the result of the negotiations performed by SENASA, with the support of the Citrus Growers Association (Procitrus) and the Embassy of Peru in China.
Source: Andina