The Council of Agriculture (COA) said that in order to further promote exports of tropical fruits and other quality Taiwanfarm produce to the Japanese market, and in coordination with Japan ’s lifting of import ban on Taiwan dragon fruit with white flesh on April 16, the Council formally introduced dragon fruit to Japanese markets for the first time. At a July 1 press conference hosted jointly in Tokyoby COA Vice Minister Yu-tsai Huang and Republic of China Representative to Japan John Feng, members of Japanese news media and agricultural groups tasted safe quality Taiwan agricultural products.

Vice Minister Huang told the press conference that Taiwanand Japanhave always been trading partners with close relationship, with Taiwanbeing Japan ’s fifth largest agricultural export market and Japanthe biggest export market for Taiwan farm produce. Exports of Taiwanagricultural products to Japanlast year totaled some US$700 million, accounting for 22% of overall Taiwan agricultural exports. Although the aggregate value of foreign farm produce imported by Japan in 2009 was 35% less than the previous year, the export value of several important Taiwan agricultural products to Japan increased significantly compared with 2008, including pineapple (with a growth of 34%), mango (11%), litchi (8%), green soybean (9%), lettuce (77%), Phalaenopsis orchid (18%) and tilapia (6%).

Meanwhile, Japan ’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries statistics in 2009 showed that Taiwanwas the largest green soybean, lettuce, tuna and bonito exporting country to Japan , while exports of Taiwan banana, pineapple, papaya, peanut, eel, spinach and great burdock ranked either second or third. Therefore, Japanis a very important export market for Taiwanagricultural products and Taiwan should further develop the Japanese market continuously. And the COA thanked Japanese consumers for their consumption of Taiwan farm produce.

In addition to marketing such tasty quality summer fruits from Taiwanas mango, pineapple, litchi, papaya and banana, the Tokyopress conference specially introduced dragon fruits which they made their first appearance in Japan . After six years of tough negotiations between the two countries, the Japanese government finally approved on April 16 the import of Taiwan dragon fruits. Compared with dragon fruits produced in other countries, Taiwan dragon fruits are bigger in size with bright red skin, higher sucrose and excellent quality. The Council hopes that dragon fruits will provide Japanese consumers another fresh choice with unique flavor.

Vice Minister Huang emphasized that Taiwan has made many strict checks to ensure the safety of exported agricultural products. For example, he said, Taiwanset up in 2007 the safety management system for Irwin mangos being exported to Japan because they are specially favored by Japanese consumers. The government has encouraged the establishment of orchards supplying quality fruits for export, required exporters and fruit farmers to sign letters of intent, introduced registration and bar code tracing and management system, and implemented compulsory pesticide residue inspections both after harvest and prior to vapor heat treatment before issuing permits for export to Japan . Irwin mangos exported to Japan have passed related Japanese regulations since the establishment of the safety management system.

Taiwan has also established the safety management system for Oolong tea, registered tea farmers, factories and exporters, effectively traced tea’s place of origin, and implemented pesticide inspection and other control measures before allowing exports. So far Taiwanhas exported tea to Japan without problem. The Council will continue promote various safety control measures for exported agricultural products in the future to further increase the international competitiveness of Taiwan farm produce.

Vice Minister Huang also introduced Taiwan Bussankan (Store of Taiwan Products) in Tokyo , which was opened in 2006 by a Japanese fruits trading company assisted by the COA so that Japanese consumers can enjoy tasty Taiwanfruits in season at the same time as people in Taiwan . Because of the company’s continuous efforts and development, Taiwan Bussankan now sells 411 items of Taiwan products. Its revenues in 2009 totaled 250 million Japanese Yen, an increase of 11% over the previous year. The first shipment of Taiwan dragon fruits and other quality tropical fruits are being marketed and sold in trial simultaneously in Taiwan Bussankan and 10 stores run by this Japanese fruits trading company.