Photo: depositphotos.
The State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection is stepping up its efforts to expand its sales markets in the People’s Republic of China. The need to open new markets for Ukrainian products of plant and animal origin was discussed between the Service’s management and representatives of the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC). The meeting was also attended by diplomats from the Embassy of Ukraine in China and the Embassy of China in Ukraine. This was reported by TimeUkraineIsrael with reference to the Government portal.
The importance of China for Ukrainian agricultural exports
China is an important strategic market for national agricultural exporters. Given this reality, the head of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection, Serhiy Tkachuk, initiated an ongoing dialogue between the Ukrainian service and the competent authorities of China. According to Oleg Osiyan, First Deputy Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection, the main goal is to open seven new markets. Although this process is a long one, gradual successes are already becoming apparent.
Discussion of new projects
During the meeting, the parties reviewed draft bilateral international agreements on the export of such products as peas, wheat flour, pet food, beef, corn, poultry and wild-caught aquatic products from Ukraine to China. Each of these documents is at different stages of approval and processing.
“At the moment, the pea protocol is completing the stage of domestic approval in Ukraine, and the texts have already been sent to the competent authority in China for review. This market is at the final stage of opening up, and after signing the bilateral protocol, new opportunities will open up for Ukrainian agribusiness,” said Vadym Chaikovskyi, Deputy Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection.
Recent achievements in cooperation
The honey market has recently become an open market for Ukrainian producers. The health certificate for honey exports from Ukraine to China was approved earlier this year. The requirements of importing countries for the export of food products of animal and plant origin can be found on the official web portal of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection.
In addition, draft protocols for the export of poultry and fish are being considered by Chinese colleagues. The protocol on wild-caught aquatic products has already passed internal approval and is awaiting final approval from China. The texts of the protocols on beef and pet food are also being finalised.
Prospects for cooperation
Representatives of the State Food and Consumer Service and GACC discussed in detail the next steps of cooperation and draft bilateral agreements. Both sides confirmed their readiness to intensify cooperation in international trade between Ukraine and China, which will open up new opportunities for Ukrainian farmers.
