Business news

MINSK, 10 July (BelTA) – Over twenty Belarusian companies will be authorized to export beef to China, Belarusian Deputy Agriculture and Food Minister Alexander Subbotin told the media ahead of the negotiations between Belarusian Agriculture and Food Minister Leonid Zayats and Director of China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine Zhi Shuping on 10 July, BelTA has learned.

“At the moment there are 36 Belarusian enterprises authorized to sell milk into China. Today the certification of 21 Belarusian beef manufacturers and 5 poultry factories will be over. It will enable them to sell to the Chinese market, too,” Alexander Subbotin remarked.

The deputy minister stressed it is too early to speak about concrete volumes of exports. “We have made the first step. We have removed the barrier and opened the market. Now our companies have to do their part. I hope our supplies to China will be stepped up in the coming weeks,” Alexander Subbotin pointed out.

He emphasized China is a special country in terms of approach to food products. “In China our products have won the reputation as high-quality goods. However, the Belarusian companies still need to work hard to carve their niche in the market. China has its own food habits: their love for cheese is just taking off and they are not used to eating steaks,” the deputy minister added.

According to Alexander Subbotin, the decision to open the market was made as a result of the whole range of procedures. “This is a long process that includes a large volume of correspondence and several accreditation inspections. The last one ended two weeks ago. We have also proven that our regulations correspond to the Chinese ones and we can meet all their requirements. The signing of the documents is the result of this work,” the deputy minister stressed.

He added the certification of Belarusian freshwater fish suppliers will become the next step towards expanding the cooperation with China.

For his part, Zhi Shuping described Belarus-China relations as a friendly strategic partnership. “Belarus-China trade is thriving. We would like to see Belarus’ safe and high-quality products on our market,” he underlined.

China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine and Belarus’ Agriculture and Food Ministry signed a protocol on the requirements to the Belarusian exports of frozen beef to China, a protocol on the inspections, quarantine, and veterinary sanitary requirements to the Belarusian frozen poultry supplies to China, and a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in providing safety when importing and exporting food products.

According to the press service of the Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry, Belarus’ agricultural exports totaled $1.938 billion in January-May 2017, 28% up from the same period of last year. There has been a growth in the exports of dairy products, pork, and sausages. During this period Belarus’ exports to China included milk, cream, beer, and mineral water.