Hallabong Opens Export Route to New Zealand... Negotiations Settled After 23 Years

Korean Citrus Fruits, New Zealand Quarantine Negotiations Concluded

Ripe Tangerines Growing Lusciously
(Jeju=Yonhap News) Photo by Jiho Park = On the afternoon of the 8th of last month, tangerines were ripening lusciously in a tangerine orchard in Aewol-eup, Jeju City, catching the eyes of passersby. 2022.11.8
jihopark@yna.co.kr
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[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Lee Jun-hyung] The export route for domestic citrus fruits such as Hallabong to New Zealand has been opened.

The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency announced on the 21st that the quarantine negotiations for the export of Korean citrus fruits such as Hallabong and Cheonhyehyang to New Zealand were finally concluded on the 12th of this month. With this agreement, Korean citrus fruits have become the third product, following pears (1999) and grapes (2012), that can be exported to New Zealand.

Initially, the official request for import approval of Korean citrus fruits to New Zealand was made in 1999. However, the ongoing risk assessment was temporarily suspended in 2002 due to the spread of Jeju citrus canker disease.

In response, the Quarantine Agency continuously provided additional data proving the quarantine safety of Korean citrus fruits to New Zealand’s quarantine authorities. The agency also invited New Zealand quarantine officials to Jeju’s citrus cultivation areas to conduct on-site investigations.

Following the negotiation agreement, the Quarantine Agency plans to establish "Quarantine Guidelines for the Export of Korean Citrus Fruits to New Zealand." Citrus orchards and packing houses must be registered with the Quarantine Agency, and after quarantine inspections of the cultivation sites by quarantine officers, harvested citrus fruits can be surface-sterilized and exported to New Zealand.

The government views the export of domestic citrus fruits to New Zealand as a foothold for advancing into the Oceania region. Currently, Korean citrus fruits are exported to Europe, the United States, and the Philippines. Hong Sung-jin, head of the Plant Quarantine Department at the Quarantine Agency, stated, "We will actively discover promising export items to expand exports of domestic agricultural products and pioneer new markets. We will also continue to pursue strategic quarantine negotiations and strive to increase agricultural exports."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.