The Council of Agriculture (COA) said the Taiwan delegation led by COA Vice Minister Huang Yu-tsai achieved a major breakthrough in the second working conference on “Cross-Strait Cooperation Agreement on Agricultural Product Quarantine and Inspection” held in Fuzhou, Fujian. The delegation and its mainland Chinese counterpart reached a consensus on Taiwan ’s bid to export fresh pears and processed poultry and animal products to mainland China , its request for Beijingto add safety standards of agricultural chemical residues on 22 kinds of Taiwanfruits, and other issues concerned Taiwan farmers.

The consultation was held in Fuzhou on September 27-28 and mainland Chinese experts headed by Deputy Chief Chuan-zhong Wei of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine participated in the meeting. The COA noted that the consultation proceeded quite smoothly and experts from both sides agreed to accelerate quarantine and inspection risk analysis regarding export of fresh Taiwanpears to mainland China . And several Taiwan manufacturers were granted permit to export prepared meat of swine, processed poultry products and processed poultry eggs to the mainland Chinese market. As to agricultural chemical residues on the 22 kinds of Taiwan fruits which have been allowed to export to China, Beijing agreed that before setting its own safety standards, mainland Chinese authorities will temporarily conduct quarantine and inspection according to the standards of Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) or Taiwan prior to granting customs clearance.

In addition, Taiwanagreed to make the arrangement for mainland Chinese experts to inspect pineapple production in Taiwan as soon as possible so that pineapples can enjoy the treatment of more convenient customs clearance. And the two delegations agreed to carry out active and close exchange of and cooperation in electronic certification and quarantine detection dog systems.

During the Fuzhou consultation the 3^rd Cross-Strait Seminar on Agricultural Product Quarantine and Inspection was also held. Experts from both sides delivered keynote speeches on cross-strait animal and plant quarantine and inspection procedures, management of agricultural chemicals and animal drugs and other related subjects, and had enthusiastic discussions and exchange of opinions, laying a solid foundation for closer cross-strait cooperation in animal and plant quarantine and inspections in the future.

Both Sides Affirm Effects of Cross-Strait Cooperation Agreement on Agricultural Product Quarantine and Inspection

The COA added that in the Fuzhou conference the two delegations were highly positive about the effects of implementing the Cross-Strait Cooperation Agreement on Agricultural Product Quarantine and Inspection. More 100 inquiries, bulletins and contacts had been made through the agreement framework liaison mechanism between the two sides in the nine months after signing the agreement, according to statistics. And the two sides had sponsored seminars and consultation conferences, significantly helped enhance mutual understanding of related operations and solved problems related to agricultural product quarantine and inspection with the aim of jointly building a better future for cross-strait farm produce trade.