Illustrative photo (Source: VNA) Hanoi(VNA) - China has agreed to consider resuming the importation of Vietnamesesweet potatoes and chilies, an online conference on June 3 heard.
Held by the Ministryof Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), the conference aimed to addresstechnical bottlenecks in order to boost farm produce consumption amid COVID-19.
Deputy Minister ofAgriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam said the Chinese side cannot travelto conduct the necessary measures for signing an export protocol on certain agroproducts.
However, China has agreed to allow Vietnam's sweet potatoes to enter its market on the condition that all cultivation areas andpackaging companies are inspected and apply technical measures to prevent the risk of the produce beinginfected by 10 harmful creatures, according to Deputy Director of MARD’s PlantProtection Department Nguyen Thi Thu Huong.
The departmentwill contact sweet potato growers in Vinh Long, Dak Lak, and Dak Nong provincesto compile technical dossiers, she added.
Regarding chili, China asked Vietnam to cease exports last year but the General Administrationof Customs of China has now agreed on the temporary resumption of chili shipments from Vietnam while theChinese side analyses the risks.
The Plant ProtectionDepartment will study suitable technical and phytosanitary measures and forwardthese to relevant Chinese agencies, as well as help localities set updisease-free cultivation areas, Huong noted.
Malaysia has also given green light to the import of Vietnamese chilies after a two-year suspension if certainconditions are met.
Localities need toclosely work with the Plant Protection Department to complete technical dossiers,as export markets have specific requirements on the tight management of cultivationzones and packaging facilities, Nam emphasised./.
VNA
