Export of Portuguese sausages to China

The export of hams and sausages of Portuguese meat pigs to China may be permitted this year, accentuating the good understanding already achieved in the field of dairy products, announced today the secretary of state sector.
We are extraordinarily advanced stage (of negotiations). Today we had the confirmation that very soon we will have good news. It will probably be later this year, said the Portuguese State Secretary for Food and Agribusiness Innovation, Nuno Vieira e Brito, to Lusa in Beijing.
The confirmation was given by the director of the General Administration of Quality and Inspection of China (AQSIQ), Vice Minister Wei Chuanzhong, who signed last May in Lisbon, the agreement that allows the export of Portuguese dairy to China.
Nuno Vieira e Brito met with Chinese counterpart this morning (local time), in what was the third meeting between the two leaders in the space of just two months.
There is a good understanding with the Chinese authorities, which allowed streamline such procedures, highlighted the Portuguese Secretary of State.
Vieira e Brito told that the Chinese counterpart enjoyed immense ham and Portuguese wines. China has recognized the quality and safety of our food, he added. Vieira e Brito also revealed to be committed to open up the Chinese market for Portuguese fruit, including seedless table grapes, cherries, kiwis, pears rock, apples and persimmons, and foster bilateral technological cooperation in the agrifood field.
The Secretary of State went to China accompanied by officials from seven Portuguese dairy companies, the first promotion of its kind held in the country. The agri-food productivity in Portugal increased 28.3% in the last twelve years, and in the field of exports, that sector was the highest growth in 2012, highlighted Vieira e Brito and in a business seminar organized by AICEP (Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade Portugal), held in a hotel in Beijing.
A similar workshop was held on Wednesday in Shanghai, the economic capital of China, organized by the local branch of the AICEP. Portugal is well known for high quality and extreme security in a set of products like wine, olive oil, vegetables, fruits and dairy products, said Vieira e Brito to Chinese professionals.
As he indicated, exports of Portuguese food sector grew by 7.6% in 2012 and the goal this year is to achieve a growth close to double digits.
Vhumana, Lactaçores, Montiquiejo Queijo Saloio, Bel Portugal, Indulac and Lactovil are the Portuguese companies present at the seminar.
We want to make China a major customer of our food exports, said the ambassador of Portugal in Beijing, Jorge Torres-Pereira.
Export to China of dairy and pork Portuguese sausages was one of the themes discussed a year ago in Beijing, by the Foreign Minister, Paulo Portas. At the time, Portas announced that Portugal had already handed over to the Chinese authorities technical dossiers required and admitted that the certification process was completed in 2013.