Spain and China sign landmark agreement on organic certification and food safety cooperation
The agreement was signed by the Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, and the Director General of China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), Lou Wen. Alongside the organic pact, both nations finalized a comprehensive work plan designed to bolster food safety cooperation and streamline the export clearances for Spanish infant formula into the highly lucrative Chinese market.
With these latest signatures, Spain and China have now reached a milestone of 30 bilateral agri-food cooperation agreements - 23 of which have been enacted since 2018. This underscores a period of unprecedented institutional and commercial alignment between Madrid and Beijing.
Opening new doors for the organic sector
Minister Luis Planas emphasized that the new regulatory alignment is a major commercial victory. “This agreement opens new opportunities for the Spanish organic sector and helps strengthen its position in international markets,” Planas stated.
The MoU establishes a structured framework for technical collaboration, standard harmonization, and information exchange to facilitate the trade of organic goods. Moving forward, both countries will cooperate closely on training, capacity building, certification validation, and rigorous control systems.
The agreement also outlines the creation of specialized joint working groups, technical seminars, and official exchange visits between regulatory administrations and private sector stakeholders. The deal further consolidates Spain's position as a European powerhouse in organic agriculture; in 2024, the Spanish organic sector achieved a record-breaking trade balance, with exports reaching €3.884 billion.
A dynamic and strategic agri-food alliance
Economic and diplomatic relations between the two nations are currently experiencing strong momentum. “China is a strategic partner for Spain,” Minister Planas reiterated, noting that China remains the top destination for Spanish agri-food exports within the Asian continent.
Bilateral agri-food trade saw Spanish exports to China exceed €1.8 billion in 2025. This robust trade relationship continues to be anchored by high-volume shipments of Spanish pork, animal by-products for human consumption, and premium olive oil.
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