Lychee is among the six Vietnamese fruits licensed to enter the US market. (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) - Timothy Westbrook, an expert from the US Department of Agriculture(USDA)’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), has completed hisCOVID-19 quarantined period and began his task at the HCM City-based Son Son irradiation centre.
Theexpert arrived in Vietnam on September 2 to continue monitoring the treatmentof fruit destined for his country, which recently underwent a hiatus due toCOVID-19.
Speaking at a pressconference on September 25, Westbrook said the US is now a crucial importer of Vietnam’sagricultural products.
SixVietnamese fruits have been licensed to enter the market.
Facing difficultiesfrom the coronavirus outbreak, the US recalled many of its staff in March,including those at the APHIS, in Vietnam. APHIS employees, however, are incharge of monitoring the handling of fruit at the Son Son irradiation centre -the only Vietnamese facility of this kind recognised by APHIS.
While waiting for USplant quarantine experts, the Plant Protection Department worked with the USEmbassy in Vietnam, asking it to send a staff member to monitor fruit irradiationto maintain exports.
Data shows thatVietnam shipped over 6,000 tonnes of fruit to the US in 2019 and more than3,000 tonnes in the first half of 2020, up slightly against the same periodlast year./.
Facing difficultiesfrom the coronavirus outbreak, the US recalled many of its staff in March,including those at the APHIS, in Vietnam. APHIS employees, however, are incharge of monitoring the handling of fruit at the Son Son irradiation centre -the only Vietnamese facility of this kind recognised by APHIS.
While waiting for USplant quarantine experts, the Plant Protection Department worked with the USEmbassy in Vietnam, asking it to send a staff member to monitor fruit irradiationto maintain exports.
Data shows thatVietnam shipped over 6,000 tonnes of fruit to the US in 2019 and more than3,000 tonnes in the first half of 2020, up slightly against the same periodlast year./.
VNA
