Agriculture Dept says no approval for Malaysian durian exports to China via overland routes

PUTRAJAYA, July 2 — The Department of Agriculture (DOA) has never authorised the export of Malaysian fresh durians to China via overland routes, following confirmation from China’s customs authorities that such shipments involving transit countries are not covered under the existing bilateral export protocol.

In a statement today, DOA said it had received feedback from the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) that exports of Malaysian fresh durians via overland routes involving transit countries fall outside the scope of the protocol currently agreed between Malaysia and China.

It said the use of overland routes would not be permitted until a new protocol or amendments to the existing agreement had been finalised and endorsed by both countries.

DOA said it remained committed to ensuring all agricultural exports complied with the agreed protocols and legal requirements, adding that the current fresh durian export protocol was based solely on export routes mutually approved by Malaysia and China.

“DOA will continue to strengthen Malaysia’s fresh durian export protocols to ensure compliance with international standards while safeguarding the country’s export market access,” the statement said.

To facilitate future overland exports, DOA said it would hold further discussions with GACC on a proposed protocol covering the shipment of fresh durians through transit countries.

It said the negotiations were necessary to ensure compliance with requirements on traceability, biosecurity, phytosanitary measures and supply chain integrity throughout transportation across multiple countries.

The department will also conduct engagement sessions with the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and the Malaysian Agricultural Office in Bangkok to obtain detailed information on logistics requirements, cross-border arrangements, transit procedures and regulatory requirements should overland exports be introduced in the future.

DOA also noted the industry’s interest in developing value-added durian products, including pre-cut fresh durians, for export markets, stressing that any proposal must be supported by comprehensive scientific and technical studies to ensure product quality, food safety and shelf life throughout the distribution process.

It added that Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) had been appointed to undertake the necessary studies before any proposal to export pre-cut fresh durians is submitted to the importing country’s authorities for consideration. — Bernama