Asian export ties were strengthened this week when the Indonesian Quarantine Agency granted Country of Recognition for South Africa’s food safety control system, thereby increasing the export potential for South African deciduous fruit.
The document was signed by the Indonesian Minister of Agriculture, Mr Amran Sulaiman, on Monday (11 April 2016) and forwarded to Mr Willem Geerlings, Political Counsellor, at the South African Embassy in Jakarta.
“This has been a long and complex process and the industry is heartened by this break-through,” said Mr Anton Rabe, HORTGRO executive director. “This establishes a new trading regime that will ease the import process and documentation requirements, and also opens up the port of Jakarta as an entry point into Indonesia.
“We wish to thank all the officials – especially at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) – both in South Africa and at the Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, for the successful conclusion of the country of recognition status that has been achieved. This is the result of a team effort between the public and private sector and will greatly assist with creating a more stable trading regime to grow our exports to Indonesia.”
The collaborative efforts and hard work by all parties towards achieving this ultimate goal has finally paid off and is certainly welcomed and well deserved, said Ms Lindi Benić, HORTGRO
Trade & Market Access Manager. She especially acknowledged Mr Geerlings’ extensive ongoing efforts in this regard.
“We look forward to this new development, also providing confirmation of products included under SA’s Country of Recognition status - including all deciduous fruit and including the use of the port of Jakarta”
The following products have been included:
Apples, Apricots, Cherries , Citrus fruits, Grapes, Grapefruit, Lemons, Nectarines, Oranges, Peaches, Pears, Peanuts, Plums, Pomelos, Prunes
