The Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of China (Taiwan) announced on June 13th that there is another major breakthrough in the export of agricultural products from Taiwan. The Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety of the European Commission has recently notified that Taiwanese mangoes and pomegranates have been approved for import into the European Union.
This notification signifies a significant achievement for Taiwan as it demonstrates international recognition of Taiwan’s plant quarantine technology and pest control capabilities. Taiwan has successfully overcome the strict restrictions imposed by the EU on fruit fly host fruits, paving the way for Taiwanese agricultural products to expand into high-end markets in the EU member countries.
The Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of China released a press release stating that due to Taiwan being a quarantine zone for pests such as the oriental fruit fly and melon fly, fruits like mangoes and pomegranates could not be directly exported to the EU. However, with years of quarantine processing technology development and successful export experiences to countries such as Japan, Korea, Australia, and New Zealand for mangoes through steam treatment, as well as pomegranate cold storage quarantine treatment for export to the US, Taiwan has demonstrated that the relevant quarantine treatments are effective in eradicating the fruit flies and pests of concern to the EU. Therefore, Taiwan has submitted import applications to the EU.
After multiple technical consultations and exchanges of information with the EU, Taiwan finally received confirmation that Taiwanese mangoes have been officially included in the list of countries eligible for import into the EU. Under the supervision of the quarantine authority, the mangoes have undergone steam treatment at 46.5 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes and have been certified on the quarantine certificate for export to the EU. Similarly, after being certified by the quarantine authority as not infected with EU-regulated quarantine pests (fruit flies), pomegranates can also be exported to the EU.
The Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of China emphasizes that Taiwanese mangoes are currently exported to countries like Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Singapore, and Malaysia. Pomegranates have gained access to markets in the US, Canada, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, and Palau. This success highlights the professionalism, maturity, and international credibility of Taiwan’s quarantine processing technology and management systems, effectively breaking through the high standards set by the EU for exporting fresh fruits, thus creating broader export markets for Taiwanese fruit growers.
The quarantine authority will continue to cooperate with various sub-offices in guiding the relevant operators and quarantine processing facilities in their EU exports, ensuring the smooth implementation of processes and inspection mechanisms to guarantee the operations are safe and without issues.
The Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of China will continue to focus on expanding agricultural product exports, establishing a Taiwan agricultural product supply system that ensures “stable supply” and “quality assurance” for exports, and discussing reasonable quarantine conditions with trade partner countries based on scientific evidence. The approval for mangoes and pomegranates to export to the EU this time showcases the Ministry’s commitment to supporting farmers in professional operations, implementing product traceability management and export quarantine procedures to assist Taiwanese high-quality fruit products in reaching international markets.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of China states it will enhance the market recognition of Taiwanese fruits and agricultural processing products in Europe through precise marketing and positioning of high-end products. At the same time, it will continue to strengthen domestic production guidance resources to create a stable and high-quality export supply system, providing high-quality and stable agricultural products. By offering overseas sales incentives and supporting farmers and traders in exports, as well as collaborating with local department stores, supermarkets, and other retail outlets to promote Taiwanese agricultural products, the Ministry aims to increase the exposure and popularity of Taiwanese products, helping local businesses establish stable trade procurement and cooperation relationships to expand export achievements.
The Ministry reiterates its efforts to further enhance the international visibility and export of Taiwanese agricultural products by leveraging the experiences and resources of overseas units and Taiwanese business associations to meet the purchasing needs of major local channels. By building a stable long-term supply chain foundation for key local fruits and agricultural products, the Ministry aims to establish a solid export market presence.
Additionally, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of China will continue to establish cooperative partnerships with agricultural producers in bilateral agricultural cooperation fields in countries like the Netherlands, France, Poland, and Lithuania. Through various cross-domain publicity channels such as sports events and cultural venues, the Ministry actively penetrates local consumer markets. The Ministry hopes that Taiwan’s high-quality fresh fruits will be favored by health-conscious and quality-focused European consumers, thus creating a competitive Taiwanese agricultural brand and steadily expanding sales in Europe.