From May 7 to 9, the Department of International Cooperation of the GACC, in collaboration with the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and Nanjing Customs, hosted a delegation of EU Agricultural Counsellors to China for a visit to Nantong City, Jiangsu Province. The delegation engaged in roundtable discussions and field research aimed at further expanding bilateral agricultural and food trade between China and the EU.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union (EU). Both China and the EU rank among the world's leading producers, consumers, and traders of agricultural and food products. Amid the tide of globalization, bilateral agricultural and food trade has flourished, with both sides working together to build a secure, efficient, and sustainable agricultural value chain. According to China Customs statistics, during the first quarter of this year, China's imports of beer and pork from the EU saw year-on-year growth of 25.7% and 17.5% respectively, while exports of aquatic products and dried/fresh fruits to the EU increased by 34.4% and 10.8% year-on-year. Guo Xueyan, Director General of the Department of International Cooperation of the GACC, stated that China-EU customs inspection and quarantine cooperation has long yielded fruitful results, built a solid foundation, and holds promising prospects. Substantive progress has been made in expanding market access for agricultural and food products, registering new enterprises, preventing and controlling animal and plant epidemics, as well as in standards exchange and digital supervision.
With the steady improvement of China-EU relations, Jiangsu—known as the 'land of fish and rice'—is accelerating agricultural modernization, actively developing import and export trade in agricultural and food products, and vigorously promoting high-level openness in the agriculture and food industries. In 2024, Jiangsu's agricultural product trade with the EU reached RMB 15.02 billion, while food trade amounted to RMB 8.42 billion. The province has established import advantages in products such as French barley, Dutch bulbs, and German timber, while its exports of flowers and wood products to the EU rank among the highest nationwide.
During the event, representatives of the EU Agricultural Counsellor in China visited Nantong—known as "China's First Modern City" and a leading agricultural hub in Jiangsu Province—to gain insights into the landscape of China's agricultural development through this vantage point. Chinese and European delegates focused on reforms to streamline inspection and quarantine regulations, enhance agricultural and food trade between China and the EU, and address key concerns of enterprises. They engaged in in-depth discussions with import-export companies such as Jiazhiwei Food, Nantong Haida Aquatic Products, and Jiangsu Baikafu Food, and conducted site visits to multiple enterprises including Jiangsu Tenchen Egg Industry and Xinyuan Cocoon Silk Group. Experts from Nanjing Customs provided a systematic overview of China's import-export food inspection and quarantine regulations, the access system for animal and plant products, the categories of products requiring quarantine approval, and the corresponding procedures. Special emphasis was placed on the current list of EU-origin animal and plant products approved for import into China. The EU Agricultural Counsellor in China provided a comprehensive overview of the European Union's veterinary and phytosanitary border control requirements, covering official control regulations, inspection checklists, and related measures.
Nantong Haida Aquatic Food Co., Ltd., a participant in the discussion, boasts over 40 years of experience in seaweed seedling cultivation, aquaculture, and processing. Seaweed stands as Nantong's flagship agricultural export, renowned internationally for its delicate texture, superior quality, and exquisite flavor. Company representative Sha Heng stated: "Since 2008, with guidance from Nantong Customs, we've successively obtained the EU IFS certification, UK BRC certification, and EU organic food certification through rigorous standards. We've successfully registered our proprietary brand 'Haidawu' seaweed in the European Union, with exports to the EU showing consistent annual growth." We look forward to using seaweed as a bridge to invite more friends from the European Union (EU) to visit Nantong, savor the fresh flavors of our seaweed, and jointly explore opportunities for China-EU cooperation in green agriculture, low-carbon economy, and other fields. Together, we can bring Nantong seaweed to a broader global stage.
A single leaf of seaweed connects land and sea, while a humble egg "hatches" vast market potential. Hai'an City in Nantong boasts a thriving poultry and egg industry, proudly holding the title of "China's Poultry and Egg Capital." On the afternoon of the 8th, representatives from the EU Agricultural Counsellor's Office in China toured the modern egg grading and packaging facility at Jiangsu Tenchen Egg Industry Co., Ltd. in Hai'an City. "At our facility, eggs undergo a comprehensive process including washing, drying, disinfection, oiling, crack detection, grading, and coding to guarantee safety and freshness before reaching supermarket shelves—giving customers peace of mind when making their purchases," explained Chen Guangye, the company's director, as he introduced both the factory operations and flagship products to visiting delegates. He also shared the company's growth journey: "In the early 1990s, my grandfather pioneered this venture from humble beginnings in poultry farming, gradually expanding into feed production, animal healthcare, and egg processing. Today, we've achieved full industrial chain integration with smart, automated systems driving continuous product innovation." According to reports, the company's declared export value for egg products saw a 62.06% year-on-year increase during the first four months of this year. Nantong Customs, operating under Nanjing Customs, assists enterprises by facilitating streamlined export procedures through measures like scheduled inspections, appointment-based customs clearance, and the export 'Green Channel'—ensuring efficient shipment of egg products.
In Jiangsu, a growing number of agri-food enterprises are setting their sights on international markets. Leveraging Jiangsu's trade relations with the EU, Nanjing Customs has established comprehensive inspection and quarantine oversight for exported agricultural and food products. This end-to-end regulatory framework covers all critical stages—from farm and manufacturer registration, origin inspections, sample testing, to port spot checks and overseas notification verification—effectively safeguarding and fostering sustainable growth in agricultural trade.
While experiencing the dynamism of China-EU economic collaboration, businesses anticipate a mutually beneficial partnership. The event has not only facilitated policy dialogue but also strengthened industrial collaboration ties.
Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of China Inspection and Quarantine Times. The China Inspection and Quarantine Times version shall prevail.