Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in Sejong City. [Photo by Yoo Dae-gil]
Thanks to the government's proactive export quarantine negotiations, the market for domestic agricultural products is expanding. Korean pears have gained access to the North African market in Egypt, and all grape varieties can now be exported to Australia.
The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency announced on July 6 that it achieved significant outcomes in agricultural export quarantine negotiations during the second quarter of this year, including the opening of the Egyptian market, the expansion of grape varieties for export to Australia, an extension of the export period for melons, and improvements in quarantine requirements for tomatoes exported to Japan.
The most notable achievement is the entry of Korean pears into the North African market. The agency stated that this agreement establishes a foothold for exports to the African continent. The number of countries where Korean pears can be exported has increased to 18, including the United States, Taiwan, and Australia. In Australia, the Yeongam district in Jeollanam-do has been newly designated as a pear export zone, expanding the total to seven zones.
The export path for grapes to Australia, which was previously limited to certain varieties, is now fully open. The quarantine agency finalized negotiations with Australia in April. Starting in the second half of this year, all grape varieties, including the existing Kyoho, Campbell Early, and Shine Muscat, can be exported under the same conditions.
The export period for Korean melons, popular in Southeast Asia and Oceania, has also been extended by one month in each region. The export period for melons to Vietnam has been extended from December to May of the following year to December to June. For Australia, the export period will increase from May to June starting next year.
Additionally, the regulatory burden on tomato farmers exporting to Japan has been reduced. As of June 18, Japanese quarantine authorities have removed the 'tomato borer,' a major pest affecting domestic tomatoes, from the list of quarantine pests. This means that domestic exporters are no longer required to comply with strict additional requirements, such as regular inspections of cultivation sites or mandatory installation of insect nets in greenhouses.
Choi Jeong-rok, head of the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, stated, "We have recorded visible achievements in the second quarter, such as the opening of the Egyptian market for pears, the extension of the melon export period, and the easing of export requirements for tomatoes to Japan. We will continue to actively identify the needs of exporting farmers and the industry to strengthen our export support system focused on the field."
The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency announced on July 6 that it achieved significant outcomes in agricultural export quarantine negotiations during the second quarter of this year, including the opening of the Egyptian market, the expansion of grape varieties for export to Australia, an extension of the export period for melons, and improvements in quarantine requirements for tomatoes exported to Japan.
The most notable achievement is the entry of Korean pears into the North African market. The agency stated that this agreement establishes a foothold for exports to the African continent. The number of countries where Korean pears can be exported has increased to 18, including the United States, Taiwan, and Australia. In Australia, the Yeongam district in Jeollanam-do has been newly designated as a pear export zone, expanding the total to seven zones.
The export path for grapes to Australia, which was previously limited to certain varieties, is now fully open. The quarantine agency finalized negotiations with Australia in April. Starting in the second half of this year, all grape varieties, including the existing Kyoho, Campbell Early, and Shine Muscat, can be exported under the same conditions.
The export period for Korean melons, popular in Southeast Asia and Oceania, has also been extended by one month in each region. The export period for melons to Vietnam has been extended from December to May of the following year to December to June. For Australia, the export period will increase from May to June starting next year.
Additionally, the regulatory burden on tomato farmers exporting to Japan has been reduced. As of June 18, Japanese quarantine authorities have removed the 'tomato borer,' a major pest affecting domestic tomatoes, from the list of quarantine pests. This means that domestic exporters are no longer required to comply with strict additional requirements, such as regular inspections of cultivation sites or mandatory installation of insect nets in greenhouses.
Choi Jeong-rok, head of the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, stated, "We have recorded visible achievements in the second quarter, such as the opening of the Egyptian market for pears, the extension of the melon export period, and the easing of export requirements for tomatoes to Japan. We will continue to actively identify the needs of exporting farmers and the industry to strengthen our export support system focused on the field."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.