AVOCADOS Australia and China Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Association have signed an MOU in Beijing to work towards facilitating market access to China for Queensland avocados.
Queensland is the largest avocado producing state in Australia.
Avocados Australia is the peak industry body representing Australian avocado farmers, exporters, marketers and wholesalers. And CIQA is a not-for-profit organisation focused on the import and export inspection and quarantine sector.
CIQA also assists with overcoming technical barriers to trade agreements and other technical market access issues.
Under the MOU, CIQA has agreed to assist in sharing market intelligence, helping to develop frameworks for necessary research and development that feeds into overcoming market access barriers and facilitating information sharing between China’s regulatory market access bodies and Avocados Australia.
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk claimed Queensland produces some of the best avocados in Australia which are very much in demand overseas.
“I’m very pleased to witness the signing of this MOU which supports the opportunity for Australian avocados to gain market access to China,” she said
“This MOU will enable greater collaboration between CIQA and Avocados Australia, while bolstering industry development through R&D, ultimately growing Queensland’s avocado industry and increasing employment.”
Avocado Australia CEO John Tyas said: “Building a strong and enduring technical partnership with CIQA is already helping to assist Australian researchers, particularly the research partners within the new $130 million Fresh and Secure Trade Alliance (FASTA) project, develop relevant data packages to ensure we achieve success when the market access negotiation begins.
