The longstanding agricultural partnership between Taiwan and the Netherlands has been built on mutual trust, technical collaboration, and a shared commitment to safe, high-quality trade. This visit by the Dutch Chief Phytosanitary Officer and NPPO marks another step forward in addressing market access challenges, deepening technical exchanges, and ensuring the smooth flow of plant products that connect the two economies.
Beeld: © NLOT
Background
Taiwan has a subtropical climate—with the southern region bordering on tropical, which is warm and humid year-round. Such conditions are not suitable for the growth and maturation of flower bulbs. As a result, Taiwan imports large quantities of flower bulbs from the Netherlands every year for ornamental purposes, such as tulip exhibitions. Lilies, on the other hand, are widely used for religious ceremonies, rituals, and funeral arrangements. Dutch lily bulbs take up 90% of the bulb market in Taiwan. Therefore, regular bilateral meetings play a vital role in addressing market access issues and fostering continued cooperation between both sides.
Visit of Chief Phytosanitary Officer and NPPO
In July, Mr. Meeuwes Brouwer, Chief Phytosanitary Officer (CPO) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature, together with Dr. Devi Hermsen from the Netherlands Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) visited the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency (APHIA), Ministry of Agriculture in July for Technical Dialogue on Plant Quarantine.
This technical discussions were on phytosanitary issues related to exporting Dutch plant products to Taiwan, including the current status of flower bulbs and seed exports from the Netherlands. Future technical exchanges and expertise-sharing in plant quarantine were also discussed.
Both delegations highly appreciated the pleasant and constructive meeting and open discussions. It highlighted the excellent relations between the two countries regarding phytosanitary market access. In addition to the official phytosanitary meeting with Taiwanese authorities, the Dutch delegation also visited and met with representatives of local organizations, companies, and traders with links to the Netherlands to better understand market opportunities, challenges, and trends.
Achievement
Many concrete outcomes have resulted from the Taiwan–Netherlands bilateral phytosanitary meetings. For example, the development of detection techniques for the Gladiolus INSV virus facilitated temporary project-based bulb exports and, after the testing conditions were established, ensured the smooth trade of flower bulbs. These meetings reinforced Taiwan's strong agricultural partnership with the Netherlands, further fostering mutual trust and creating a solid foundation for continued trade and technical cooperation.