01/31/05 Comments on China`s apples

01/31/05 Comments on China`s apples

U.S. apple industry technical advisors spent time in China last month monitoring bi-lateral negotiations. What representatives from the U.S. and China were negotiating was what Chinese pests should belong on a list of concern for the U.S. as it attempts to keep unwanted apple pests from China out. Nancy Foster of the U.S. Apple Association says this is the first step of U.S.D.A.'s procedure in determining whether or not Chinese apples should be allowed into our country. FOSTER: The next step is going to be U.S.D.A. post the pest list on their web site so there will be opportunity for lots of comment, raising questions, seeing if they're on track or not. After that, they'll have to do an assessment for the damages from these pests that China has that we do not. Then we feel that should be subject to public comment. But Foster and her organization want U.S.D.A. to go above and beyond what is usually done to allow foreign nations to bring a commodity into the U.S. FOSTER: We think U.S.D.A. should work with us and publish for public comment their plans on mitigation, which means controlling the risk. Now U.S.D.A. has said to us, we understand there's going to be pests and diseases that China has that the U.S. doesn't. But life is not about zero risk. So the issue with China is having an effective mitigation plan. Now that works both ways as far as U.S. apple growers getting their product into China. More in our next program.
Previous Report01/28/05 China and Tree T.A.C.
Next Report02/01/05 China an opportunity?