Pakistan to export cherry after a very long time

The Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFSR) has resolved the 12-year-old issue of market access for Pakistani cherries sent to China.

The General Administration of Customs China (GACC) certified to the Ministry of National Food Security and Research’s Department of Plant Protection (DPP) that Pakistani exporters can export cherries from Pakistan to China from DPP-registered orchards and packhouses.

This market access request has been in the works since 2012. However, GACC permitted the export of cherry from Pakistan to China in line with the agreed protocol after a video inspection of quarantine operations and registered orchards and cold treatment facilities, as well as packhouses registered with DPP for sanitary and phytosanitary precautions.

Also Read: Indus Motor Company Signs Auto Product Export Agreement with Toyota Egypt

The Department of Plant Protection took particular measures to update registered orchards, cold treatment facilities, and packhouses to GACC standards. DPP made tireless efforts, including counselling and frequent technical compliance checks, to ensure and enable these orchards and facilities to export cherry by improving food safety and phytosanitary controls, in addition to quality, storage, and packing. Pakistan already has 90 cherry orchards and 15 cold treatment facilities and packhouses that can export cherries to China.

This agreement opens the door to additional exports to overseas markets as long as quality criteria are maintained. Furthermore, with DPP, additional orchards and facilities are being upgraded to international standards in order to attain substantial shares in high-end markets in Asia, Europe, the United States, and Australia, as well as registration for export to China.