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China agrees to allow all varieties of US apples access to its markets
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Wednesday, 28 January, 2015, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Vienna
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fiogf49gjkf0d The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently announced that China has agreed to allow all apple varieties produced in the United States access to the Chinese market.
The agreement was finalised during bilateral negotiations in San Francisco last week but comes after years of work.
Expanding market access to China has been a top priority for US Apple Association (USApple) as directed by the board of directors.
“Our growers produce premium quality apples of many varieties, and this year’s record crop makes it even more exciting to see a new export market open up. But, what our industry has had to do and will need to continue doing is assure those growers’ best interests are considered both abroad in new markets like China and here in the domestic market where other apples could in turn be brought in,” said Jim Bair, president and CEO, US Apple Association (USApple).
The decision will be effective in about 45 days and allow direct shipment of all US varieties from all states. A US apple industry coalition including USApple, Washington Apple Commission, Northwest Horticultural Council (NHC), Northwest Fruit Exporters and US Apple Export Council has long worked to assure that US grown apples would be allowed equal access: Chinese access to the US market was in final negotiations and is also approved by the agreement.
Red and Golden Delicious varieties from Washington received import approval in October, 2014, after having been closed out for two years. Since those varieties are declining in production, achieving full access for all varieties from all states was a critical achievement for US growers. One of the greatest concerns among US growers regarding imports has been the potential introduction of foreign pests and diseases into orchards.
Nearly 15 years ago, USApple and NHC formed the Tree Fruit Technical Advisory Council (TreeTAC), a coalition of expert scientists from the top-producing states charged with safeguarding the US tree fruit industry from potential pest and disease threats. The TreeTAC scientists reviewed China’s import request at every step in the lengthy process to ensure US growers would be protected.
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