China opens its market to cherries from Pakistan: Phytosanitary requirements complicate its realization

Pakistani cherry exports to China are getting closer to becoming a reality, with the signing of the bilateral phytosanitary protocol in November last year and the reopening of the Khunjerab pass, the only land route between the two countries, in April. China's General Administration of Customs recently informed Pakistan's Ministry of National Food Security and Investigation, via the Chinese embassy in Islamabad, that it would conduct compliance inspections of Pakistani orchards and cold stores via video conference. The notification letter also indicated that the Chinese authorities had authorized the import of cherries from Gilgit-Baltistan and other regions of the country. Zulfiqar Monin, a Pakistani fresh fruit exporter, said that cherries grown in the country, especially those from Gilgit-Baltistan, are juicier than average, but also highly perishable, adding that they cannot be exported to China with current phytosanitary requirements. . The main problem is that before ...