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Affirming Taiwan's Safety Management System Mangoes Exported to Japan Exempted from Mandatory Inspection Starting December 22, 2010

2011-01-14

To facilitate the export of Taiwan mangoes to Japan, the Council of Agriculture (COA) has promoted Safety Management System for Mangoes Exporting to Japan since 2007. Because all exported fruits have so far met Japanese regulations on agricultural chemical residues, the Japanese government agreed to exempt Taiwan mangoes from mandatory inspections of cyfluthrin and cypermethrin, reducing from 100% inspection of every shipment to general random sampling inspection. Since mangoes exported to Japan can get customs clearance immediately upon arrival without having to wait for agricultural chemical inspections, customs clearance schedule is shortened by 3-5 days, greatly helping establish the quality image of Taiwan mangoes in Japan and enhancing the quality of exported Taiwan mangoes.

Implementation of Safety Management System for Mangoes Exporting to Japan Establishes International Image of Quality Taiwan Agricultural Products

The COA noted that Japan implemented its revised Act Governing Food Sanitation in May 2006, which listed residual base of agricultural chemicals for food and animals and feed additives and increased agricultural chemicals subject to residual inspection from 283 to 799. When 15 Taiwan mangoes exported to Japan were found violating the latter’s regulations on agricultural chemical residues in 2006 and then listed as an item for mandatory inspection, the COA immediately formulated Safety Management System for Fruits Exporting to Japan for mango and six other fruits and assisted fruit farmers and exporters in establishing one-on-one log-in mode of cooperation, strictly implementing sampling inspection of agricultural chemical residues before fruits picking and steam heating plants exporting them with only fruits meeting Japanese standards can get export documentation. In addition, barcodes are pasted on mango boxes with each mango inside being pasted with a label for Japanese sellers and consumers to check out information on the producer. Such effective tracking management has enhanced buyers’ trust in quality Taiwan fruits.

Since implementing Safety Management System for Mangoes Exporting to Japan in 2007, the COA sends the lists of log-in exporters and farmers organizations of the year for Japan to decide whether or not to exempt Taiwan exporters and farmers organizations from mandatory inspection and in four consecutive years agricultural chemical residues on Taiwan mangoes exported to Japan were found in line with Japanese regulations. The Taiwanese delegation asked Japan to remove the mandatory inspection regulation in the 35 th Taiwan-Japan Economic and Trade Conference, and the Japanese government gave its agreement at the end of 2010, said the COA. So Taiwan does not have to send the list of mango exporters to Japan from now on and all exported mangoes are subject to random sampling inspection, instead of 100% inspection of each shipment. Because Taiwan fruits can get immediate customs clearance upon arrival in Japan, it has greatly helped enhance the quality image of Taiwan agricultural products and shorten customs clearance procedure.

Expanding Export Markets for Mango Increases Farmers’ Income

Taiwan has continuously exported mangoes to Japan in recent years, pushing mango prices in domestic market higher and higher. The mango price increased from NT$ 22.5 in 2003 to NT$40 per kilogram in 2010, which significantly improved farmers’ income.

The Council noted that in addition to strengthening the international image of quality Taiwan agricultural products, Japan’s removing mandatory inspection of exported Taiwan mangoes will help accelerate their customs clearance, upgrade the quality of fresh mangoes exported to Japan and expand business opportunity for exports. In the future the COA will continue assisting farmers and exporters in implementing Japanese measures under their safety management system for agricultural products and sponsoring propaganda and marketing activities abroad to increase farmers’ revenues and promote sustainable agricultural development. ( 2011-01-14)