Fruit exporters prepare for China shift

The Philippines has started undertaking necessary steps to comply with the stringent quarantine rules being imposed by China, as local exporters seek to restore their shipments of fresh fruits to this huge market.

These rules, or the nontariff measures, comprised of improved packaging system and other additional requirements. These would be on top of the standard sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) said on Friday.

Compliance to these rules has become more relevant as China last week lifted the ban on 20 Philippine banana and six mango exporters—a move seen boosting trade between the two countries. Exports to China hit $6 billion last year, but this market is seen to offer an even higher growth potential as better relations ensue.

Philexport trustee for food sector Roberto C. Amores expressed optimism local exporters would be able to comply with China’s measures (NTMs) on fruit exports.

Amores, however, expressed strong opposition to a rule imposing a vapor heat treatment on fruit exports. He said this would not only shorten the products’ shelf life, but would also unnecessarily add to exporters’ costs.

He also lamented the Asean-China free trade agreement was supposed to remove the tariffs. In their place, however, more nontariff measures have been slapped on Philippine fruit exports.