S. Korean vegetable exports to Japan to increase under eased rules: gov`t

By Lee Joon-seung
SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korean exports of hot peppers and sesame leaves to Japan will receive a boost as Tokyo has taken steps to ease residual pesticide inspection rules, the government said Tuesday.

The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said four local
suppliers have passed safety and quality control standards tests imposed by Japan
on these agricultural products.
Import identification codes given to these suppliers allow them to send products
through customs more quickly than in the past.
Before the codes were issued, all shipments of sesame leaves and hot peppers were
physically checked, causing delays in customs. Under the new system, only
monitoring and regular sample tests will be conducted.
"Because Japan only grows small quantities of hot peppers and sesame leaves,
exports could surge by around 20 percent in the remaining two months of this
year," a government official said.
In November-December 2007, South Korea shipped 122 tons of the vegetables, which
may jump to 157 tons worth US$913,000 for the cited two months.
Japan in May 2006 started a "positive list system" on residual fertilizers.
Under this system, allowable maximum limits on 700 different types of pesticides
were set, while those not listed were banned if residual levels exceeded 0.01
parts per million.
To overcome this, the South Korean government, the National Agricultural Products
Quality Management Service, the Rural Development Administration and other
agencies have made a concerted effort to get local farmers and exporters to meet
the strict standards and inform Japanese authorities of measures taken.
In addition to sesame leaves and hot peppers, South Korean suppliers have
received permits to ship paprika, small-sized tomatoes and cucumbers to Japan by
meeting the safety rules.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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