Minister Fernando Mattos and representatives of the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP) held a meeting on Wednesday (12.04.2023/XNUMX/XNUMX) with a large official Chinese delegation headed by the vice administrator of the National Administration of Food and Strategic Reserves of the Asian country, Jia Qian.
There, topics such as the Update of sanitary and phytosanitary protocols between both parties, as well as the possibility that Uruguay can expand its agricultural exports, in order to sell poultry products or new cuts of beef.
Mattos recalled that 60% of Uruguayan grain exports go to China, and said that there is the possibility of incorporating new productions. In addition to the recently signed protocols for exporting sorghum and barley, there is the possible introduction of the rapeseed. Uruguay will also seek the incorporation into the export guidelines of wheat, lemons and honey, among other products.
In this regard, the hierarch announced that On April 24 and 25, he will meet with representatives of the General Administration of Customs of China, in order to discuss the current protocols for different export items. The minister said that it is an opportunity to improve the protocols of quality and safety.
He also highlighted the signing of the memorandum of understanding, which, in addition to existing documents, allows for strengthening and improving trade relations with China. The meeting, within the framework of the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, also served to exchange information and statistical data, as well as to learn about the needs and seek new ways to increase trade between the two nations, he said.
After the meeting, the Chinese authorities visited the Dr. Alberto Boerger experimental station of the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA), in the department of Colonia. Exchanges will continue in China during May, when Minister Mattos heads an official mission that will visit the country to meet with the head of the Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, among other actors.
New meat products
Mattos expressed the expectation of receiving the corresponding authorization for the export to China of poultry meat, as well as meat by-products such as mondongo and tongue, “highly appreciated in the Asian country and which were not contemplated in the latest protocol.”
He also said that Uruguay is consolidated with regard to the export of horse meat, and that the sport horses could also be included in the export guidelines.
Finally, Mattos stressed that, even with the vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease, the country can give full guarantees that there has been no viral circulation for years.
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