Fresh pomegranates from Egypt gain access to Chinese market

The announcement by the Chinese General Administration of Customs establishes the phytosanitary and quality requirements that Egyptian growers, packers and exporters must meet in order for their pomegranates to be imported into China. Among them is the requirement of cold treatment. Fruit should be stored with a core temperature of 1.67 degrees Celsius or less for more than 16 days or 2.22 degrees Celsius or less for more than 18 days. The ad also lists eight pests of concern, including the Mediterranean fruit fly, common guava blue (Deudorix isocrates), and carob bean moth (Ectomyelois ceratoniae). Aside from cold treatment, growers must follow a series of grading and cleaning steps that are relatively common for exported fruit. In addition, orchards, packing facilities, and cold storage and treatment facilities must be registered with the Central Plant Quarantine Administration under the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, in addition to GACC approval. The ...