Apples grown in China's central Shaanxi region could soon be granted access into the U.S. market, following a successful visit by officials from the North American country. 

A delegation from the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently visited apple production sites in Shaanxi - one of China's biggest growing regions - with a view to establishing trade protocols.

The development comes after APHIS proposed a new rule on July 18 to allow imports of fresh apples from China into the continental United States.

During the inspection tour, U.S. officials and experts visited production areas owned by Shaanxi Baolian Fruit Product Co. and Shaanxi Huasheng Group Corp., as well as an apple processing center in the provincial capital Xi'an.

The delegation conducted a comprehensive inspection of field management practices, processing, storage, examination and quality control systems.

At a post-inspection conference, Shaanxi Department of Commerce officials highlighted the visit's positive outcomes, saying the U.S. delegation was 'satisfied' with the progress they had seen.

The Chinese officials also described the tour as a 'long-waited breakthrough after 16 years of hard-work'.

"For a long time, the Americans have denied market access for Chinese apples. In 1998, the Chinese authorities officially applied for market access for Chinese apples into the U.S. market," a Chinese official said.

"Since then, the Shaanxi Department of Inspection and Quarantine has been closely working with General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine [AQSIQ] to prepare technical documents and engage in negotiations with U.S. plant health officials and experts.

"The two apple export companies inspected by the delegation successfully passed the rigorous on-site examination. This marks a new milestone in the breakthrough of international technological barriers, and also means that Shaanxi apples are on the verge of entering the U.S. market - which carries great significance to the sustainable growth and international expansion of Shaanxi's apple industry. "

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