The California citrus industry is awaiting a decision by China’s quarantine department, AQSIQ, on whether California citrus will be able to re-enter China, following a recent visit to the US.
Two AQSIQ representatives met with Californian industry representatives and the US department of agriculture from 23 to 27 June, but left the US without finalising any agreements.
California Citrus Mutual (CCM) had hoped the visit would allow AQSIQ to review the efforts by the California citrus industry to comply with the new phytosantiary protocols agreed to earlier this year to prevent fruit fly infestations.
“The meetings and tour with two Chinese officials went very well from my perspective,” said CCM’s president Joel Nelsen in a company statement. “They visited with growers and shippers in Ventura and Central Valley and were shown how we envision implementing the protocols for exporting to China.”
The AQSIQ officials said they would meet with their senior officer in the coming week.
“We hope for a communication later this month that indicates the market will re-open for business this next navel season,” said Nelsen.
China has banned imports of Californian citrus since April 2013, due to decaying fruit found in some shipments.
Officials from Australia and New Zealand also travelled to California, as well as Florida, to explore areas of improvement in communication and information gathering to manage pest control, specifically for Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and Huanglongbing (HLB). CCM said this visit concluded more favourably than that by AQSIQ.
