K-Susam to Begin Exporting to the US Starting This Year

The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency announced on the 30th that quarantine negotiations for the export of domestically produced fresh ginseng to the United States and the import of Texas-grown grapefruit from the United States were finally concluded in June, enabling trade between the two countries starting this year.

The Quarantine Agency has been actively reflecting public proposals since 2017 and continuously pursued quarantine negotiations with the United States for the export of domestically produced fresh ginseng. On June 24th, the U.S. quarantine authorities officially announced in the Federal Register the approval of imports of Korean fresh ginseng into the United States, formalizing the import of domestically produced fresh ginseng into the U.S.

Fresh ginseng exported to the United States must be produced in registered cultivation sites with the Quarantine Agency, where sclerotium disease is managed at the cultivation site, sorted at the export warehouse, and must pass the export inspection by the Quarantine Agency to meet export quarantine requirements.

The Quarantine Agency plans to establish and announce the "Quarantine Guidelines for Exporting Korean Fresh Ginseng to the United States," which contains detailed quarantine requirements, by September this year to support smooth export of fresh ginseng to the U.S.

Meanwhile, the Quarantine Agency has been actively pursuing quarantine negotiations with U.S. quarantine authorities since 2019 to allow the import of Texas-grown grapefruit from the United States. In March, pest risk management measures were finalized, and on the 27th, import quarantine requirements were established and announced.

Gobyung Goo, Director of the Plant Quarantine Department at the Quarantine Agency, stated, "The conclusion of these quarantine negotiations will help pioneer new markets for domestic agricultural products and diversify import supply sources."