A new path has opened for the export of fresh Korean mandarins to the Philippines. With the significant relaxation of strict quarantine requirements, the likelihood of resuming exports after a 10-year hiatus has increased.
The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency announced on the 20th that negotiations to relax quarantine requirements for fresh mandarin exports to the Philippines have been finalized after a year.
Fresh Korean mandarins were allowed for export following an agreement with the Philippines in 2010, but transportation was limited to cargo ships. Each packaging box had to be sealed, and due to stringent requirements that mandated a 10% inspection of imports upon arrival in the Philippines, export performance was poor. In fact, the total amount of mandarins exported to the Philippines in 2013 and 2014 was just 34 tons, and since 2015, there have been no export records.
This negotiation has significantly improved the export method and quarantine procedures. Transportation using air cargo has become possible, and the packaging method has changed from individual boxes to container units. The on-site inspection rate has been dramatically reduced from the previous 10% to 2%.
Kim Jeong-hee, head of the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, noted, "We will continue to reflect the opinions of farmers and related industries to explore new export markets for our agricultural products," adding, "To ensure smooth exports, we plan to understand the difficulties faced by farmers regarding export quarantine requirements and push for further negotiations."