China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) has signed phytosanitary protocols that will allow Costa Rican fresh pineapple imports into the country. 

The market access was announced during a visit by Chinese Agriculture Minister Zhi Shuping to the Central American country.

Costa Rica's Ministry of Agriculture said access had also been discussed for dehydrated pineapples, melon and frozen fruits and vegetables.

The recently signed protocols also allow imports of Costa Rican tuna.

National Chamber of Pineapple Growers and Exporters (CANAPEP) president Abel Chaves told www.freshfruitportal.com the sector had been waiting a long time for market access, with the Chinese delegation having visited Costa Rica almost a year ago.

"They visited farms and packhouses, and were able to verify that our industry has advanced a lot both in environmental and social terms. But what took a long time was the pest risk assessment," he said.

He added shipments to China would begin in the coming weeks, and many companies were fully prepared to begin exports but had just been waiting for the green light.

Currently Costa Rica has somewhere between 38,000-40,000 hectares of pineapple plantations, but Chaves believes the Chinese market access could help bring that figure up to 45,000.

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