네덜란드 과일 insights

The increased demand from the Netherlands drove growth, reported the Association of Exporters (ADEX)

The visit to the Netherlands demonstrated what is possible when science, innovation, and practice go hand in hand.

The General Administration of Customs has issued an announcement regarding phytosanitary requirements for imported fresh Dutch apples, allowing imports that meet the relevant requirements. According to available information, the Dutch apple planting area has continuously declined, dropping from 15,000 hectares 26 years ago to 5,220 hectares in 2024. The annual apple production in the Netherlands is approximately 197,000 tons in 2024, with about 43% (84,000 tons) being the Elstar variety, followed by Jonagold and Jonagored varieties (45,000 tons), Kanzi variety (15,000 tons), and Rode Boskoop variety (9,000 tons). 85-90% of Dutch apple production is sold domestically, with a very small export share. The announcement indicates that before each export season, the Dutch side should provide updated registered orchard and packaging plant lists to the Chinese side, which will be reviewed, approved, and published on the General Administration of Customs website. The quarantine pests of concern include fruit yellow roller moth, apple borer, gray round scale, plantain round-tailed aphid, peach white round scale, apple woolly aphid, apple leaf bee, elm oyster scale, apple grass constricted aphid, apple weevil, pear thrips, pear fire blight bacteria, fruit chain nuclear disc fungus (apple brown rot), stone fruit chain nuclear disc fungus (apple brown rot), apple bull's eye fruit rot bacteria, chestnut blight black water bacteria, lilac blight bacteria, and apple black spot fungus. Orchards destined for export to China must establish and implement Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), maintain orchard hygiene conditions, remove rotten fruits during harvest, and execute Integrated Pest Management (IPM) measures. Before processing, production lines must be cleaned. During processing and packaging, apples must be water-washed, selected, graded, and have inferior fruits removed to ensure the fruit is free of insects, mites, spiders, contaminating pests, branches, leaves, roots, and soil. Packaged apples must be stored separately to prevent re-infection by pests. During the first two years of trade, the Dutch side should sample