As an important port for tea export, Shunde's export volume accounts for approximately 80% of Guangdong Province's total tea exports. According to information from the Shunde Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, in 2011, the bureau inspected and quarantined 170.5 tons of tea exported to the EU, worth a total of $744,000, representing a year-on-year increase of 358.3% in export volume. However, since October 1 last year, the EU has implemented stricter inspection measures for Chinese tea exports to Europe.
In response to this, the Inspection and Quarantine Bureau will strictly control the quality of tea exports. Relevant personnel stated that the next step will involve closely supervising related exporting enterprises to strengthen the management of tea planting bases, ensuring that pesticide use during the cultivation of tea destined for the EU strictly adheres to EU standards, thus rigorously controlling the source of raw materials. The bureau will also focus on testing high-risk pesticide residue projects to enhance the relevance and effectiveness of inspections.
"We will also strengthen laboratory construction and conduct pesticide residue detection projects," said staff members. This year, the bureau has included tea pesticide residue detection projects in its new laboratory initiatives. After the launch of these projects, the issue of excessively long inspection times for Shunde's tea exports is expected to be resolved.
Information Times reporter Lin Jinting (Source: Information Times)