The Yongzhou Customs Authority completed the follow-up inspection procedures for 54 tonnes of imported macadamia nuts on August 4. These macadamia nuts, produced in Kenya, were Hunan's first batch of imported nut products from Africa this year. 

"Kenya's macadamia nuts are favored by Chinese consumers for plump kernels and delicate taste," said the spokesperson of the importer. The company directly purchased nuts from African suppliers. The shipment from Kenya to Yongzhou took approximately 30 days. The nuts, after arrival, will be graded by automation equipment in the factory, and then be processed into snacks with various flavors such as creamy and mustard for the domestic markets. It is estimated that the import volume will be approximately 2,000 tonnes this year. 

To facilitate import of African agricultural and food products, the Yongzhou Customs Authority visited importing companies to explain relevant policies, assisting them to import kernels instead of in-shell nuts. Through a "one-on-one" enterprise liaison mechanism, the authority provided early intervention and opened a green channel for "on-demand review and priority inspection." 

This year, the Changsha Customs Authority has rolled out a pioneering "pre-evaluation system for market access for African food to China" nationwide. This system has further enhanced the green channel for African agricultural and food products entering China while expanding imports. In the first half of the year, Hunan imported agricultural products worth 160 million CNY from Africa.

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn. 

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: hunantoday