A delegation headed by the deputy director general of the Chinese Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) will visit nectarine orchards and packings facilities on Monday January 16, to verify that they comply with the procedures agreed by both countries.
The visit, which was coordinated by the Agriculture and Livestock Service (SAG) and the Association of Fruit Exporters of Chile AG (ASOEX), is the last stage of the process to start shipments.
On Monday, January 16, the inspection team will officially meet with the director of SAG, Angel Sartori, and then visit orchards and packing plants in the metropolitan region, specifically in the area of Viluco. On Tuesday they will conduct inspections in the area of Maipo.
On Wednesday, the Chinese professionals will go to the O'Higgins Region, where they will meet with regional officials of the SAG, and then tour orchards and packing plants in Mostazal. The inspection team will tour the VI Region until Thursday, and they will conclude their visit on Friday, January 20, with a final meeting.
ASOEX and the SAG took various measures to accelerate the visit of the AQSIQ inspectors to Chile so that the country could begin shipments of this fruit; news that the industry is waiting for. China granted the opening of its market to Chilean nectarines on October 25, 2016, but it was officially signed during the visit of the President of China, Xi Jinping, to Chile on December 22, 2016.
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.
Meanwhile, 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 and 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: ASOEX