Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Chairman of Uzbekistan’s Committee for Food Safety Azizbek Urunov held a meeting with Sun Meijun, head of the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China.
The sides discussed expanding trade in agricultural and food products, phytosanitary and veterinary procedures, and the digitalization of certification. This was reported by Uzbekistan’s Committee for Food Safety.
Particular attention was paid to ensuring product safety at all stages, from production to readiness for sale. This area is of particular importance for Uzbekistan amid the formation of a unified state management system for food safety.
The unified system was established pursuant to Presidential Decree No. PF-84, “On Measures to Introduce a Unified System of State Management and Control in the Areas of Food Safety, Phytosanitary and Veterinary Affairs,” dated 12 May 2026. The document provides for consolidating powers in food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary affairs within a unified system.
Currently, 38 types of fruit and vegetable products from Uzbekistan are permitted for export to China under phytosanitary certificates. In 2025, melons, almonds and dried cherries were added to the list, while in 2026, dried garlic, onions, beets, carrots, tomatoes, radishes, pumpkins, eggplants, zucchini and greens were added.
In 2025, Uzbekistan exported 193,000 tonnes of fruit and vegetable products to China worth US$210 million. The meeting discussed accelerating phytosanitary procedures to allow another seven types of products to enter the Chinese market: apples, pears, onions, persimmons, dried figs, millet and sunflower seeds.
The sides also discussed veterinary cooperation. Protocols have already been signed on inspection, quarantine and veterinary and sanitary requirements for exports from Uzbekistan to China of frozen poultry meat, fish and fish products.
A draft protocol establishing requirements for the export of hides and skins of cattle and small ruminants is undergoing domestic approval.
In addition, veterinary certificates have been signed for the import of hatching eggs and day-old chicks from China to Uzbekistan. A veterinary health certificate for the export of frozen poultry meat has also been developed and agreed upon.
The participants discussed procedures for admitting Uzbek meat and meat products to the Chinese market. The Uzbek side provided materials for assessment of the state veterinary control system and submitted additional information on the issues raised.
The opening of the Chinese market to Uzbek milk and dairy products was also discussed. The process involves assessing the veterinary control system, agreeing on veterinary and sanitary requirements, developing a relevant protocol, inspecting interested enterprises and including them in the relevant Chinese registers.
Electronic certification was one of the new areas of cooperation. During the meeting, the sides signed a Work Plan for programmes in this area. The document provides for the phased electronic exchange of certificates for food products, data exchange between the competent authorities of the two countries and the simplification of trade procedures.
The integration of information systems and electronic exchange of certificates are expected to accelerate verification of their authenticity, improve data reliability and traceability, and reduce the time required to process products.
To integrate the systems, the sides agreed to develop a questionnaire and a targeted training programme for specialists on China’s CEFR information platform. According to the Uzbek side, the system has been improved and the mechanism for including enterprises from partner countries in the Chinese register has been simplified.
A practice of inspections using artificial intelligence is also being introduced, with AI classifying products according to their level of risk. If Uzbek specialists are interested, the relevant technologies will be included in the training programme.
Following the meeting, Azizbek Urunov and Sun Meijun signed a Protocol on the Export of Fresh Watermelons and a Work Plan on Electronic Certification. The agreements are aimed at increasing trade volumes, developing electronic data exchange and simplifying export and import procedures.
The agreement on phytosanitary requirements creates conditions for Uzbek watermelon producers and exporters to enter the Chinese market.
