THE Agriculture Department is in the final stages of completing all necessary paperwork to export fresh durians to China, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu said.

This includes finalising the phytosanitary certificate with the General Administration of Customs China (GACC) and submitting a list of existing durian farms and packaging facilities to them to gain approval, he told Dewan Rakyat today.

“Only durian farms and packaging facilities that apply and register with the department, comply with the good agricultural practices (myGAP) standards, and receive approval from GACC by adhering to the conditions stated in the protocol are allowed to export fresh durians to China.

“The ministry also expects the approval process for registration with GACC to take two to three months. 

“The export of fresh durians is also expected to begin in the third quarter of 2024,” he said during the minister’s question time. 

Mohamad Sabu said this in response to Chow Yu Hui (Pakatan Harapan-Raub), who enquired about the ministry’s efforts to speed up the process of exporting fresh durians to China. 

Malaysia signed an MOU with China last month regarding the matter.  

The country was given market access to China for durian paste or pulp in 2011, while market access for frozen durians was granted in 2018. 

Malaysia’s durian exports worldwide recorded a value of RM1.14 billion in 2022. China was the primary market for durians with an export value of RM887 million that year. – July 1, 2024.