China opens market to Uzbek dried produce following bilateral trade talks

According to the Agency for Plant Quarantine and Protection under the Ministry of Agriculture, the decision followed bilateral negotiations in Beijing earlier this month. An Uzbek government delegation, which included representatives from the agency, met with officials from the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China to finalize and secure the necessary phytosanitary permits.

The newly approved export list covers a broad range of dehydrated produce, specifically dried carrots, beets, tomatoes, radishes, eggplants, zucchini, pumpkins, onions, garlic, and assorted herbs.

To participate in trade with China, local processing and exporting enterprises must be registered and included on an approved importers list managed by the Chinese authorities. Furthermore, all shipments bound for China must be accompanied by an official phytosanitary certificate confirming that the commodities are completely free from quarantine pests, parasites, and other harmful organisms.

This regulatory breakthrough follows similar export expansions in South Asia. In April, Pakistani authorities granted market clearance for fresh Uzbek apples, lemons, figs, and hot peppers. That agreement requires the fresh produce to be securely packaged in plastic or cardboard boxes and maintained at a strict storage temperature not exceeding 3 degrees Celsius. The inclusion of those items brought the total number of Uzbek agricultural product categories approved for export to Pakistan to 29.