Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Hanoi Irradiation Centre (HIC) on June 23 for the first time irradiated two tonnes of lychees which are to be shipped to Australia.
The centre is expected to help lychee exporters save transport costs and time rather than shipping lychees to the south for irradiation treatment, said Dam Quang Thang, Director of Agricare Vietnam – one of the two companies that are having lychees irradiated at the HIC.
The same day, Rong Do manufacturing, commerce and services company also brought lychees to the HIC for treatment.
The cost of irradiation in Hanoi is 6,000 VND (0.27 USD) per kg while it amounts to 11,000 – 12,000 VND in Ho Chi Minh City.
Le Son Ha, head of Plant Protection Department’s plant quarantine office, said the plant quarantine staff will offer all possible support to firms.
The HIC, which got the official certification from Australia’s Department of Agriculture and Water Resources on June 20, is currently capable of irradiating 20-30 tonnes of fruit each day.
Irradiation is a safe technology that helps kill bacteria and micro-organisms and keeps fruit fresh for longer periods, even up to a few months.-VNA
