After 12 years of effort, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFSR) has successfully resolved the issue of market access for Pakistani cherry exports to China.
The Department of Plant Protection (DPP), which is under the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, received confirmation from China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) that Pakistani cherry exporters can now ship cherries to China. However, this approval applies only to cherries sourced from DPP-registered orchards and packing facilities.
The request for market access had been pending since 2012, but it was finally approved by GACC after conducting a video inspection of various aspects, including quarantine operations, registered orchards, cold treatment facilities, and DPP-registered packhouses. This inspection was carried out to ensure compliance with established protocols for sanitary and phytosanitary precautions.
To meet the requirements set by GACC, the Department of Plant Protection took necessary steps to improve registered orchards, cold treatment facilities, and packhouses. They provided guidance and conducted regular technical compliance assessments to ensure that the orchards and facilities met the necessary standards for exporting cherries. The efforts focused on enhancing food safety, phytosanitary procedures, and overall quality, storage, and packing standards.
As a result of these efforts, 90 cherry orchards, 15 cold storage facilities, and 15 packing facilities are now eligible to export cherries from Pakistan to China.
This agreement not only allows Pakistani cherries to access the Chinese market but also opens up the potential for more exports to other markets, provided the quality criteria are maintained.
