An evaluation process undertaken to determine whether fresh mango exports can meet China’s rigorous health standards is now complete, according to Agriculture Minister Veng Sakhon.
The process, which was conducted at three mango farms and four water heat treatment (WHT) and vapour heat treatment (VHT) plants in Cambodia, was overseen by both customs officials from the Chinese province of Guangxi, who represented the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China and the General Directorate of Agriculture at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
A meeting between a working group of relevant Cambodian and Chinese officials to discuss and assess Cambodian exports of fresh mango to China was held virtually via video conference on Wednesday.
The farms and treatment plants selected for inspection were the UCDL Development mango farm, Angkor Harvest, Bamin and Agriculture Hi-Tech development, Long Wo Agriculture (Cambodia) Co Ltd, Al Jazeeland Food PTE Ltd, Boeung Ket Fresh Fruits Co Ltd and Hyundai Agro (Cambodia) Ltd.
Through the evaluation process, Chinese experts observed that the mango farms and mango fly egg treatment plants inspected have exhibited good progress, but small things need to be improved.
China also asked Cambodia to strengthen measures at the farm and in the factories to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and strengthen the awareness of mango growers and treatment plant owners on hygiene and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) protocols in alignment with Chinese requirements, according to Sakhon.
He added, “The General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China promised to provide all the results of the assessment report within one week of our meeting. The General Directorate of Agriculture at the Ministry of Agriculture will put more effort into pushing companies to improve the deficiencies as soon as possible in order to achieve the export of fresh mangoes to China this year.”