Taiwan has secured another breakthrough in fruit exports, with jujubes, dragon fruit and lychees approved for shipment to the EU, the Ministry of Agriculture said yesterday.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency on Thursday received formal notification of the approval from the EU, the ministry said, adding that the decision was expected to expand Taiwanese fruit producers’ access to high-end European markets.
Taiwan exported 126 tonnes of lychees last year, valued at US$1.48 million, with Japan accounting for 102 tonnes. Other export destinations included New Zealand, Hong Kong, the US and Australia, ministry data showed.
Photo: Yang Yuan-ting, Taipei Times
Jujube exports totaled 103 tonnes, valued at US$514,000, primarily shipped to China, Hong Kong, Canada and Japan. Dragon fruit exports reached 143 tonnes, valued at US$506,000, with Hong Kong, Japan and Canada as the main markets.
After lengthy negotiations aimed at expanding overseas markets, the EU on Thursday formally notified Taiwan’s representative office to the bloc that it had approved imports of Taiwan-grown jujubes, dragon fruit — both white and red varieties — and lychees, with immediate effect, the agency said.
“As fruit production in the EU is dominated by temperate varieties, tropical fruits such as jujubes, dragon fruit and lychees are rarely cultivated locally,” the agency said. “Given their premium quality and distinctive flavor, they have strong market potential in Europe.”
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