Argentine Blueberries Cleared for Import to China

On October 30, China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) announced an update to China’s list of allowable imported fruits. Previously updated on May 17, 2018, the most recent announcement officially approves the import of fresh blueberries from Argentina to China.

Argentine blueberries and New Zealand Avocados were added to the list of permitted fruit imports back on January 12 of this year. At that time, these fruits were not officially exported as market access procedures had yet to be completed. Now, Argentine blueberries are finally able to enter the Chinese market.

According to the Argentinean Blueberry Committee (ABC), blueberries are not one of Argentina’s traditional crops. In fact, Argentina only started growing blueberries 20 years ago. Currently, major blueberry growing areas are located in Northwest and Northeast Argentina including the capital city, Buenos Aires. Argentina heavily encourages domestic blueberry consumption—so much so that, in 2016, domestic consumption of blueberries increased by 250%. The history of Argentina’s blueberry exports also dates back to 20 years ago, when the country first began growing the crop. An impressive 95% of Argentina’s blueberry crop is exported. In 2017, Argentina’s major export markets were the United States (60.91%), the United Kingdom (13.03%), the Netherlands (7.61%), and Germany (5.44%).

ABC called blueberry exports to China a very inspiring feat and emphasized the prolonged period of negotiations and preparation between the two countries. Furthermore, ABC hopes that Argentine blueberries can represent the quality of Argentina’s fruit exports. Considering the blueberry season has already begun as well as the 30% import tariff on Argentina’s blueberries, Argentina is strictly observing the quality of the first blueberry shipment, testing the Chinese market with small quantities at first.

The GACC also published a list of 14 registered Argentine blueberry establishments—five in Entre Rios, five in Tucuman, two in Buenos Aires, one in Salta, and one in Catamarca. The following is the full list of registered establishments: http://www.customs.gov.cn/customs/jyjy/dzwjyjy/qymd/zwjcp/2062553/index.html

The updated permissible fruit list released on October 30, 2018 is as follows:

THAILAND

Tamarind (Tamarindus indica), Sugarapple (Annona squamosa), Papaya (Carica papaya), Carambola (Averrhoa carambola), Guava (Psidium guajava), Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum), Rose apple (Syzygium samarangense), Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), Long kong (Lansium parasiticum), Pineapple (Ananas comosus), Sapodilla (Manilkara zapota), Banana (Musa sp.), Passion fruit (Passiflora caerulea), Coconut (Cocos nucifera), Longan (Dimocarpus longan), Durian (Durio zibethinus), Mango (Mangifera indica), Litchi (Litchi chinensis), Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana), Citrus [Mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata), Orange (Citrus sinensis), Pomelo (Citrus maxima)]

MALAYSIA

Longan (Dimocarpus Longgana), Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana), Litchi (Litchi chinensis), Coconut (Cocos nucifera), Watermelon (Citrullus Lanatus), Pawpaw (Chaenomeles Sinensis), Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum)

INDONESIA

Banana (Musa nana), Longan (Dimocarpus longan), Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana), Salacca (Salacca Zalacca)

PHILIPPINES

Pineapple (Ananas comosus), Banana (Musa sp.), Mango (Mangifera indica), Papaya (Carica papaya)

VIETNAM

Mango (Mangifera Indica), longan (Dimocarpus longan), Banana (Musa sp.), Litchi (Litchi chinensis), Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum), Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), Pitaya (Hylocereus undulatus)

MYANMAR

Longan (Dimocarpus longan), Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana), Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum), Litchi (Litchi chinensis), Mango (Mangifera indica), Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), Melon (Cucumis melo), lndian jujube (Zizyphus Mauritiana)

(The final four kinds of fruits can only be imported to China through the port of Daluo, in Ruili, Yunnan)

LAOS

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)*, Banana (Musa supientum)

NEPAL

Citrus [Orange (Citrus sinensis)*, Mandarin (Citrus reticulata), Lemon (Citrus limon)]

INDIA

Mango (Mangifera indica), Grape (Vitis vinifera)

PAKISTAN

Mango (Mangifera indica), Citrus [Mandarin (Citrus reticulata), Orange(Citrus sinensis)]

SRI LANKA

Banana (Musa supientum)*

TURKEY

Cherry (Prunus avium)

ISRAEL

Citrus [Orange (Citrus sinensis)], Pomelo (Citrus maxima), Mandarin (Citrus reticulata), Lemon (Citrus limon), Grapefruit (Citrus paradise)]

TAJIKISTAN

Cherry (Prunus avium)

KYRGYZSTAN

Cherry (Prunus avium)

Uzbekistan

Cherry (Prunus avium)*

JAPAN

Apple (Malus domestica), Pear (Pyrus pyrifolia)

NORTH KOREA

Sweetberry/honeysuckle (Lonicera caerule L. var. edulis Turcz. ex Herd.), Lingonberry (Vaccinium sp.) (only for processing)

SOUTH KOREA

Grape (Vitis vinifera)

TAIWAN, CHINA

Pineapple (Ananas comosus), Banana (Musa sp.), Coconut (Cocos nucifera), Sugar apple/Sweet sop(Annona squamosa; Annona cherimola × Annonasquamosa; Atemoya), Pawpaw (Chaenomeles sinensis), Papaya (Carica papaya), Fruit of Carambola (Averrhoa carambola), Mango (Mangifera indica), Guava (Psidium guajava), Rose apple (Syzygium samarangense), Betel nut (Areca catechu), Plum (Prunus salicina), Loguat (Eriobotrya japonica), Persimmon (Diospyros kaki), Peach (Prunus persica), Indian jujube (Zizyphus mauritiana), Japanese apricot/Mei (Prunus mume), Pitaya (Hylocereus undulatus, Hylocereus polyrhizus, Hylocereus costaricensis), Melon/Cantaloupe (Cucunmis melo), Pear (Pyrus pyrifolia), Grape (Vitis vinifera., Vitis labrusca and its hybrid species, mainly Kyoho grape Vitis vinifera × Vitis labrusca na Bailey cv. Kyoho), Citrus [Mandarin (Citrus reticulata) and its hybrid species, Pomelo (Citrus maxima), Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), Lemon (Citrus limon), Orange (Citrus sinensis)]

UNITED STATES

Plum (Prunus salicina, Prunus domestica, only from California), Cherry (Prunus avium, only from WA, OR, CA, ID), Grape (Vitis vinifera, only from CA), Apple (Malus domestica), Citrus (Citrus spp., only from CA, FL, AZ, TX), Pear (Pyrus communis, only from CA, WA, OR), Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa, only from CA)

CANADA

Cherry (Prunus avium, only from British Columbia), Blueberry (Vacciniumspp., only from British Columbia)

MEXICO

Avocado (Persea americana Var. Hass), Grape (Vitis vinifera), Blackberry (Rubus ulmifo-lius), Raspberry (Rubus idaeus), Blueberry (Vaccinium spp)

PANAMA

Banana (Musa sp.)

ECUADOR

Banana (Musa sp.), Mango (Mangifera indica)

COLUMBIA

Banana (Musa sp.)

COSTA RICA

Banana (Musa AAA), Pineapple (Ananas comosus)

URUGUAY

Citrus (Citrus sp., except lemons), Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.)

ARGENTINA

Citrus [Orange (Citrus sinensis), Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), Mandarin (Citrus reticulata and its hybrid species)], Apple (Malus domestica), Pear (Pyrus communis), Grape (Vitis vinifera)*, Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.)

CHILE

Kiwi fruit (Actinidia chinensis, Actinidia deliciosa), Apple (Malus domestica), Grape (Vitis vinifera), Plum (Prunus salicina, Prunus domoestica), Cherry (Prunus avium), Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.), Avocado (Persea americana), Nectarine (Prunus persica var. nectarine)

PERU

Grape (Vitis vinifera), Mango (Mangifera indica), Citrus [Grapefruit (Citrus × paradisii), Mandarin (Citrus reticulate) and its hybrid species, Orange (Citrus sinensis), Key lime (Citrus aurantifolia) and Tahiti lime (Citrus latifolia)], Avocado (Persea americana), Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.)

[Note: Corresponding English names for Key lime and Tahiti lime are provided in the AQSIQ list. They have been added by Produce Report based on the Latin names]

FRANCE

Apple (Malus domestica), Kiwi fruit (Actinidia chinensis, Actinidia deliciosa)

SPAIN

Citrus [Mandarin (Citrus reticulata), Orange (Citrus sinensis), Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), Lemon (Citrus limon)], Peach (Prunus persica), Plum (Prunus salicina, Prunus domoestica)

ITALY

Kiwi fruit (Actinidia chinensis, Actinidia deliciosa), Citrus [Orange (Citrus sinensis cv. Tarocco, cv. Sanguinello, cv. Moro), Lemon (Citrus limon cv. Femminello comune)]

CYPRUS

Citrus [Orange (Citrus sinensis), Lemon (Citrus limon), Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), Mandora (Citrus sinensis × Citrus reticulata)]

BELGIUM

Pear (Pyrus communis)

GREECE

Kiwi fruit (Actinidia chinensis, Actinidia deliciosa)

HOLLAND

Pear (Pyrus communis)

POLAND

Apple (Malus domestica)

SOUTH AFRICA

Citrus [Mandarin (Citrus reticulata), Orange (Citrus sinensis), Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), Lemon (Citrus limon)], Grape (Vitis vinifera), Apple (Malus domestica)

EGYPT

Citrus (Citrus sp.), Grape (Vitis vinifera)

MOROCCO

Citrus [Orange (Citrus sinensis), Mandarin (Citrus reticulata), Clementine (Citrus clementina), Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi)]

AUSTRALIA

Citrus [Orange(Citrus sinensis), Mandarin (Citrus reticulata), Lemon (Citrus limon), Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), Lime (Citrus aurantifolia, Citrus latifolia, Citrus limonia), Tangelo (Citrus tangelo), Sweet grapefruit (Citrus grandis × Citrus paradisi)], Mango (Mangifera indica), Apple (Malus domestica, only from Tasmania), Grape (Vitis vinifera), Cherry (Prunus avium), Nectarine (Prunus persica var. nectarine), Peach (Prunus persica), Plum (Prunus domestica;Prunus salicina), Apricot (Prunus armeniaca)

NEW ZEALAND

Citrus [Mandarin (Citrus reticulata, Citrus deliciosa, Citrus unshiu), Orange (Citrus sinensis), Lemon (Citrus limon, Citrus meyeri)], Apple (Malus domestica), Cherry (Prunus avium), Grape (Vitis vinifera), Kiwi fruit (Actinidia chinensis, Actinidia deliciosa, Actinidia deliciosa×Actinidia chinensis), Plum (Prunus salicina, Prunus domestica), Pear (Pyrus pyrifolia, Pyrus communis), Japanese apricot/Mei (Prunus mume), Persimmon (Diospyros kaki), Avocado (Persea Americana)*

Notes:

• Fruits are classified in English and Latin; Latin names are parenthesized.
• This update formally adds Argentine Blueberries to the list of permissible fruits.

For more details, visit the GACC website by following the link below:

http://www.customs.gov.cn/customs/jyjy/dzwjyjy/qymd/zwjcp/2062559/index.html