Korea opens pear exports to Egypt, eases tomato rules for Japan

South Korea's Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency secured a series of agricultural export gains in the second quarter, opening the Egyptian market to Korean pears and easing quarantine requirements for tomatoes bound for Japan. The export season for oriental melons has been extended, and all grape varieties are now eligible for export to Australia, broadening overseas market access for domestic produce.

The agency announced the results of its second-quarter agricultural export quarantine negotiations on Monday. Key outcomes include the conclusion of a quarantine agreement for pear exports to Egypt, the expansion of grape varieties eligible for export to Australia, the extension of the oriental melon export season for Vietnam and Australia, improvements to quarantine requirements for tomato exports to Japan, and the designation of a new production complex for pear exports to Australia.

Starting in the second half of this year, the range of grape varieties eligible for export to Australia will expand from three — Kyoho, Campbell Early and Shine Muscat — to all varieties. Any grape variety meeting existing export requirements will be eligible for shipment to Australia without restriction.

The production base for pears destined for Australia has also grown. With Yeongam newly designated as an export complex, the number of approved pear export complexes for Australia has risen from six to seven. To address Australian concerns about fire blight, the agency regularly provides updates on domestic outbreaks and surveillance results from export complexes.

Export conditions for oriental melons have also improved. The export season to Vietnam has been extended by one month — from the previous window of December through May of the following year to June of the following year — with the change taking effect this year. Australia has agreed to the same one-month extension, with that change to take effect next year.

The market for Korean pears has expanded as well. With the conclusion of the quarantine agreement with Egypt, the total number of countries with finalized pear export quarantine agreements has reached 18, laying the groundwork for entry into the North African market.

The burden on farms exporting tomatoes to Japan will also ease. Japan's quarantine authority removed the tomato leafminer moth from its list of regulated quarantine pests on June 18, eliminating additional requirements such as regular inspections of growing sites and the installation of greenhouse insect screens. The agency said it had maintained rigorous management of exporting farms and had consistently pushed for eased quarantine requirements through channels including the Korea-Japan Plant Quarantine Cooperation Meeting.

In May, the agency convened a consultative body on fresh agricultural produce export quarantine, gathering input from relevant agencies, producer groups and exporters. It plans to identify new market development needs and quarantine improvement tasks and incorporate them into future negotiations.

"Following the first quarter, the second quarter also produced tangible results in agricultural export quarantine negotiations — including opening the Egyptian market for pears, extending the oriental melon export season, and improving tomato export requirements for Japan," agency chief Choe Jeong-rok said. "We will continue to actively reflect the needs of exporting farms and the industry, and further strengthen our field-centered export support system."