China’s risk assessments on Cambodia’s longan ends positively

China’s risk assessments on Cambodia’s longan ends positively

Once Cambodian longans are given the green light to enter China, their export value is expected to hit $200 million per year

The Chinese General Administration of Customs concluded a virtual risk assessment on the longan fruit, showing the acceptable result which is paving the way for the export of longan to China.

The trials on the risk assessment were made from January 4 to 6.

The Chinese General Administration of Customs assessed the Cambodia’s longan virtually, with officials from the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia and officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Cambodia inspecting them at the sites.

Three longan farms in Battambang and Palin provinces and two packaging factories in Kampong Speu and Palin provinces were inspected and assessed.

“The assessment makes a successful and expected result,” the Chinese Embassy noted on a Facebook’s post on Monday.

The delegation also inspected the laboratory centre of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary and quality Control Center at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

In order to be able to negotiate the opening of the market quickly to reach the import permit to China, the requirements of phytosanitary, hygienic, quality and safety standards are needed. The plantation owners shall apply the cultivation techniques in accordance with the principles of good agricultural practices and there must be sufficient investment to build packaging plants to kill the risk components according to the set standards, the ministry said.

After the risk assessment and inspection with acceptable results, a protocol deal on exporting longan to China will be made, the ministry said.

“The risk assessment process for Pailin longan is made by selecting a number of plantations as representatives and packaging plants to kill the risk components to finalise the risk assessment before proceeding with the signing ceremony of the protocol of phytosanitary requirements,” the ministry said.

Wang Wentian, the Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia stated recently that agriculture is a key area of cooperation between China and Cambodia. He expressed his belief that, through the joint efforts of the two countries, more premium agricultural products from Cambodia including durians, peppers, grapefruits and fragrant rice could be brought to Chinese consumers in the near future.

Pailin longans are not only grown in Pailin province but also in the neighbouring province of Battambang.

To date, the total planting area for Pailin longans has reached 14,500 hectares, with an annual production volume of 200,000 tonnes. Once Cambodian longans are given the green light to enter China, their export value is expected to hit $200 million per year. Khmer Times