Chongqing's mountain vegetables exports to HK gains rapid clearance

A HIGH altitude vegetable producing base has been qualified as a state-level export agricultural product and food safety demonstration area and will hence be able to enjoy fast customs clearance, Xinhua reports.

Agricultural products manufactured in the base is now acceptable by the "green lane" set up by Chongqing's inspection and quarantine authority which offers simplified customs clearance service, and enjoys one-stop customs clearance in 11 jurisdictions including Shenzhen, Guangdong, Yunnan, Xinjiang and Shanghai.

Local vegetable exporter Ran Maoshu said "green lane" clearance to Hong Kong at Shenzhen customs now takes three hours when it took 24 in the past. "Hong Kong can now get fresher vegetable supplies," he said.

The vegetable producing base is located at Wulong county, where most of its arable land is up on mountains with an altitude of over 1,000 metres and above. The area's export to Hong Kong has been rising steadily since first exported in 2011. In 2012, there were more than 900 tonnes' exported to Hong Kong from the area, mostly cabbage and broccoli.