China to import more makgeoli, kimchi from Korea

makgeolli

Japanese and other Asians have become fond of makgeoli, or rice wine, and kimchi, spicy pickled cabbage, in recent years in line with the growing popularity of “hallyu,’’ or the Korean wave. This has provided local makgeoli and kimchi producers with lucrative business opportunities to go beyond the national border and secure new customers in Asia.

However, they have been unable to make inroads into China as aggressively as other Asian markets, due to its more stringent quarantine rules.

Against this backdrop, the government has asked China to relax rules on imports of makgeoli and kimchi to make it easier for Chinese consumers to buy and consume Korea’s traditional alcohol and local cuisine staple.

The Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said Sunday that the Chinese government will ease quarantine regulations concerning fermented alcohol and pickled vegetables imported from Korea in the near future.

“President Lee Myung-bak formally asked Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to revise China’s quarantine standards on fermented goods during a summit held in Beijing on May 13 and 14, a ministry official said. “In response, the premier said China will positively consider Korea’s request.’’

Currently, the majority of makgeoli and kimchi produced here do not meet China’s guidelines. Under the rules, fermented alcohol is required to contain fewer than 50 colony-forming units per milliliter. Pickled vegetables must have fewer than 30 of the most probable number of bacillus per 100 grams.

“Due to differences in quarantine regulations between the two nations, Korea has imported more alcohol and fermented vegetables from China. The guidelines should be synchronized between the two,’’ the official said.

A recent working-level meeting between the two sides in Seoul discussed the revision of China’s rules concerning makgeoli and kimchi.

“Chinese officials agreed to change the rules so that makgeoli will be checked only for whether it contains bacteria that cause food poisoning. For kimchi, China plans to revise the regulations governing all pickled vegetables to subject kimchi to lesser strict rules,’’ the official said.

The ministry expects exports of makgeoli and kimchi to China will increase sharply once China’s envisioned revisions go into effect.

It said in cooperation with other state agencies, it will continue to study quarantine rules of foreign countries, which may impede exports of local food products. The ministry plans to ask foreign governments to revise food-related regulations through various channels to help boost the shipments of food items overseas. <Korea Times/Lee Hyo-sik>

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