ASTANA – Kazakhstan and China signed the protocol on inspection, quarantine and sanitary requirements for honey exported from Kazakhstan to China during President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s official visit to China and his participation in the May 14-15 Belt and Road forum for international cooperation in Beijing.
Photo credit: ic24.kz
Kazakh Vice Minister of Agriculture Gulmira Issayeva and Chinese Chairperson of State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) Zhi Shuping signed the document.
“Last summer, the AQSIQ inspectors visited Kazakhstan and got acquainted with honey producers in the East Kazakhstan region. They were surprised by the varieties of honey, as we can produce different types of honey of the highest quality,” said Issayeva in an interview with Kazinform.
The document reflects all the necessary requirements, which were previously studied and agreed, she added.
“This is very important, because our farmers got the opportunity to export honey, being aware of the requirements of the Chinese market,” she noted.
In addition, a project has been launched to establish laboratories in the East Kazakhstan or Almaty region which will be technically equipped and accredited in accordance with AQSIQ requirements.
“Farmers from Kazakhstan and the Central Asian region will be able to certify these products in these laboratories while supplying products to China. The test results will not be rechecked in China. This is a great recognition of our veterinary service. Chinese experts have repeatedly audited our veterinary service for various types of diseases,” said Issayeva.
Plans are also underway to agree on the requirements to ship frozen mutton to the Chinese market by the end of the year, according to First Vice Minister of Agriculture Kairat Aituganov.
“In April, Chinese experts conducted an audit of the veterinary service and the inspection of enterprises in Kazakhstan. Work continues on the organisation of export of chilled lamb to China. We are also coordinating veterinary requests for export of mutton and live sheep to Iran. The veterinary certificates have been agreed for the export of live cattle and chicken eggs to the United Arab Emirates (UAE),” he said.
Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan agreed on the list of goods allowed for export under the Eurasian Economic Union. The number of enterprises entitled to supply their products to Kazakhstan was increased from 12 to 25.
Aituganov noted specially-developed export road maps imply measures to harmonise domestic regulations and certificates with the demands of importing countries – China, Iran, Israel, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
