New
ZealandGives Consent Finally After Years of Negotiations
The Council of Agriculture (COA) said after five years of negotiations with the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, New Zealand has finally agreed to import from now on Phalaenopsis orchids with cultivation medium according to the “Work Plan on Exporting Phalaenopsis Orchids with Cultivation Medium from Taiwan to New Zealand” and New Zealand regulations governing import quarantine and inspections. This is the first time New Zealand agreed to import Phalaenopsis orchids with cultivation medium in system approach, and Taiwan broke again quarantine restrictions on exports to open up new market for Phalaenopsis orchids in the southern hemisphere after entering the Australian market early this year.
Creating Export Growth Again Based on Operation for Phalaenopsis Orchids with Medium Exported to
United States
In the past
New Zealandrequired that Phalaenopsis orchids export to
New Zealandhad to remove the cultivation medium and be treated by chemicals, and then the orchids must undergo 3-month quarantine in isolation after reaching
New Zealand
, noted the Council. To assist local businesses in breaking the strict quarantine and inspection restrictions, the COA applied to
New Zealandgovernment in August 2006 for the export of Phalaenopsis orchids with cultivation medium based on the operation for Phalaenopsis orchids exported to the
United States
. The two sides has conducted many rounds of negotiation for five years and finally decided the content of the “Work Plan on Exporting Phalaenopsis Orchids with Cultivation Medium from
Taiwanto
New Zealand
” after
New Zealandofficials went to
Taiwan
to verify the certification.
Taiwan
has been allowed to export Phalaenopsis orchids with cultivation medium to the
United Statessince 2005, and 14.26 million orchids with a total value of US$36.58 million were exported to
America
in 2010. The export value was 5.5 times that of exported Phalaenopsis orchids with bare root, and now Taiwan Phalaenopsis orchids account for 70% of the
U.S.
market. Now that Phalaenopsis orchids with cultivation medium are allowed to be export to
New Zealand
, the survival rate of exported orchids can be increased to more than 90% and the spending on isolation facility certification and regular quarantine and inspections will be saved.
COA Assists Businesses in Opening up New Markets through Guidance and Supervision
New Zealand has always been strict with quarantine and inspections, so the COA has based the “Work Plan on Exporting Phalaenopsis Orchids to New Zealand” on the requirements made by the United States on exported Taiwan Phalaenopsis orchids, and joined control specifications for the risk of epidemic diseases and pests about which New Zealand concerned. For instance, the exporter must ensure that the female parent of orchid sprouts is not infected with such viruses as CaCV or BaRMV. If the orchids are not cultivated with non-New
Zealandproduced aquatic plants, the aquatic plants must be subject to treatment in 80 degrees Celsius hot water and pesticides and antiseptics must be applied 14 days before the orchids are exported. The Council has also successfully persuaded
New Zealandinto agreeing that orchid sprouts cultivated in qualified greenhouses for export to the
United States
, whose cultivation process is verified to be in line with
New Zealandregulations, can be export to
New Zealand
after passing virus inspections.
To help the orchid industry’s production operations conform to
New Zealandregulations, the COA has set up an ad hoc group to formulate industry operating instructions and work forms, and will actively guide businesses to comply with Work Plan requirements so as to be eligible to export Phalaenopsis orchids to
New Zealand
. Moreover, during the period of Phalaenopsis seedling growth, the Council will strictly supervise to ensure that businesses actually implement measures for epidemic disease and pest control and fill in relevant forms to keep a record. The Council will also offer businesses professional advice on pest diagnosis, identification, prevention and treatment, in combination with the professional services of research institutes, during the process of cultivation. Although the volume of Taiwan Phalaenopsis orchids exported to
New Zealandwas limited in the past, the orchid industry can export Phalaenopsis orchids with medium according to new regulations following the implementation of the Work Plan, said the Council, adding that the new regulations will greatly help increase the market share of Taiwan Phalaenopsis orchids in
New Zealand
. (2011-09-02
)