The signing ceremony on ‘The Protocol on Inspection, Quarantine and Veterinary Sanitary Requirements for Wild Aquatic Products to Be Exported From Brunei Darussalam to The People’s Republic Of China’ and ‘The Protocol on Inspection, Quarantine and Veterinary Sanitary Requirements for Cultured Aquatic Products to Be Exported From Brunei Darussalam to The People’s Republic of China’ between the Government of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and China was held in Beijing, China recently.
Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Abdul Manaf bin Haji Metussin, on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, and China’s Minister and Secretary of CPC Committee of the General Administration of Customs Yu Jianhua, on behalf of China, signed the two protocols.
The signing of the protocols are a requirement for the export of aquatic products from the Sultanate to China.
The main objectives are to facilitate the export of more aquatic products from Brunei to China and to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries in biosecurity, quarantine, hygiene and health inspections of aquatic products to be exported to China under the purview of the Department of Fisheries as the competent authority for export of fisheries products from the Sultanate and General Administration of Customs of China.
There will be 134 newly-approved aquatic products permitted for export from the Sultanate to China, from the current 42 approved aquatic products, making 177 agriculture and fisheries products.
In 2022, China was recorded as the third largest import trading partner for Brunei, valued at USD93.3 million (BND125.4 million), accounting for 14.2 per cent of total imports. Meanwhile, on export, China was recorded as the fourth largest export destination for Brunei valued at USD120.25 million (BND161.6 million), accounting for 10.2 per cent of total exports.
From 2019 to 2023, 3,556 million tonnes (MT) of fisheries products and 45MT of musk melon have been exported to China.
The protocols also provide a platform for exchange of information on product safety through the monitoring of chemical waste, disease and microorganism surveillance in aquaculture farms, processing plants and cold storage premises.
It will contribute towards increasing export volume of fisheries products from Brunei to ensure growth in gross domestic product.
