The General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China has announced that it will allow the importing of fresh citrus from Zimbabwe that meets the relevant requirements.
The fresh citrus allowed to enter China includes sweet orange, mandarin, grapefruit, lemon, and lime, Fresh Plaza reported recently.
Citrus orchards and packaging plants for exports destined for China must be registered with the Ministry of Land, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water Resources and Rural Development of the Republic of Zimbabwe (MLAFWRD) and jointly approved by the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) and MLAFWRD. Registration information must include the name, address, and registration number in order to accurately trace the origin of the exported goods if they do not comply with the relevant provisions of the country’s quarantine requirements.
The registration list must be provided to GACC by MLAFWRD prior to the annual export season and the GACC will publish the registration list on its official website.
The quarantine pests of concern to China include 15 species such as the apple special-shaped curl moth, Mediterranean fruit fly, and bacteria of African citrus greening disease.
Zimbabwe’s citrus production season coincides with the off-season of citrus production in China.
“Counter seasonal supply will effectively alleviate the tight demand for citrus in China. In Zimbabwe, there is abundant sunshine and the temperature is pleasant. The unique natural conditions are beneficial for producing sweet and juicy citrus,” Fresh Plaza reported.
Zimbabwe’s annual citrus production is usually less than 200 000 tons and is mainly exported to South African and European markets. It has a unique taste and the marketing period is different from the domestic citrus in China, which places it in a strategic position to meet demand in the Chinese market.
Compared with fruits from other countries, Zimbabwean citrus has an advantage in price, and it is likely to become very popular when the first exports eventually reach China.
