After years of negotiation Vietnamese durian exporters will finally have access to the lucrative China market
Vietnamese and Chinese officials have signed off on a protocol agreeing on the phytosanitary requirements for fresh durians exports to China.
Negotiations between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam (MARD) and the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) have been ongoing for a number of years and finally concluded on 11 July.
Under the protocol, China requires that all durian growing areas and packaging facilities to be registered with the MARD and approved by the GACC,
All planting areas registered for export to China must develop a quality management and traceability system, apply good agricultural practices (GAP) and ensure conditions such as sanitation and hygiene, being away from sources of pollution, immediately removing fallen and rotten fruits; an integrated pest management (IPM) programme must be in place, including pest surveillance, chemical or biological control, and other farming practices.
This is the eleventh Vietnamese fruit to gain access to China following dragon fruit, watermelon, lychee, longan, banana, mango, jackfruit, rambutan, mangosteen, and passionfruit.
According to Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Vietnam’s 2021 durian production reached more than 642,000 tonnes, up 15 per cent year-on-year.
