Belgium has secured a long-awaited trade agreement allowing its apples to enter the Chinese market, following the signing of a new protocol between the Federal Agency for the

Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) and China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC).

The deal, finalized during an official FASFC visit to China, establishes the phytosanitary standards Belgian producers must meet before exports can begin. Among the key requirements is the mandatory registration of orchards intended for export to China.

The first shipments of Belgian apples are expected no earlier than the next growing season.

FASFC managing director Christine Romeyns described the agreement as a major breakthrough for Belgium’s fruit industry after years of negotiations with Chinese authorities.

“This is an important step for our fruit sector and the result of several years of patient work and constructive dialogue with our Chinese partners,” Romeyns said. She cautioned, however, that exporters will face strict compliance conditions and stressed that the industry must now ensure it meets all requirements outlined in the protocol.

Federal Agriculture Minister David Clarinval hailed the agreement as “historic” and said it opens the door to significant commercial opportunities for Belgian growers.

“We have worked for years with our administration to create concrete export opportunities in China, which represents an enormous market,” Clarinval said, congratulating the FASFC on securing the deal. He also urged producers to begin preparations immediately to take advantage of the new access. Photo by Jonathunder, Wikimedia commons.