Recently, the General Administration of Customs issued an announcement: In accordance with relevant Chinese laws and regulations and the “Protocol between the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Agriculture, Agrarian Reform and Rural Development of the Republic of South Africa on Phytosanitary Requirements for South African Fresh Pears to be exported to China”, from the date of this announcement, South African fresh pears that meet relevant requirements are allowed to be imported.
Fresh pear orchards, packaging plants and cold storages exported to China must be registered with the Ministry of Agriculture, Agrarian Reform and Rural Development of the Republic of South Africa, and approved and registered by the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China.
Fresh pears exported to China should be imported from ports that GACC allows to import fruit. According to the relevant laws, administrative regulations, rules and other regulations, the imported fresh pears are subject to inspection and quarantine, and those passing the inspection and quarantine will be allowed to enter the country.
It is understood that South Africa applied to export apples and pears to China as early as 2003. After a long communication, South African apples were allowed to enter the Chinese market in 2015. After nearly 19 years of waiting, South African pears are now finally allowed to enter the Chinese market.
According to Hortgro, the South African deciduous fruit industry governing body, the Asian market accounts for 22% of South African pear exports in 2021. In 2020, the planting area of pears in South Africa reached 12,913 hectares and the output reached 438,468 tons. The export volume is about 210,000 tons, accounting for about half of the total production. The South African pear industry has invested heavily in the construction of cold storage, which can supply the world almost all year round.