Swiss meat processing firms obtain licence to export to China
Bern, 14.06.2019 - Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin, the head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER, met Vice Minister Zhang Jiwen from China’s General Administration of Customs during a working visit to Bern on 14 June. The meeting focused on exports of Swiss pork products to China and the deepening of technical cooperation.
During his visit Vice Minister Zhang Jiwen announced the registration of five Swiss meat processing firms. Registration is a prerequisite for exporting pork products, popular delicacies in China.
China is an interesting export destination for high-quality Swiss food products. In order to be able to export these products, they must meet the legal requirements of the importing country. Firms wishing to export therefore have to complete registration and inspection procedures. The successful registration of meat processing firms is the result of cooperation between the firms concerned, the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO, the cantonal executing authorities, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO, and the relevant Chinese authorities. This cooperation was intensified following the entry into force of the free trade agreement between Switzerland and China in 2014. Free trade agreements improve market access for Swiss products, which are also beneficial for foodstuffs and agricultural products.
Mr Parmelin and Vice Minister Zhang Jiwen signed a joint declaration of intent on deeper cooperation on the safety and traceability of foodstuffs and industrial goods, and on plant quarantine. The two countries already engage in intensive exchanges at a technical level in a variety of areas.
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Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research
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State Secretariat for Economic Affairs
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Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office
http://www.blv.admin.ch
