Preliminary processing and packaging of green bananas for export (Photo: VNA)
The protocol recently signed by the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the General Administration of Customs China (GACC) outlines specific requirements for plant quarantine, management of growing areas, packaging and processing for Vietnamese bananas to export to the Chinese market.
On November 1, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) signed a protocol on phytosanitary procedures for Vietnamese fresh bananas exported to China. Previously, the two sides signed a protocol on exporting Vietnamese durians and passion fruits to China.
The new protocol consists of eight articles, including general provisions, registration, management of growing areas, packaging and processing, pre-export quarantine inspection, phytosanitary inspection at the border, additional assessment for the effect of the protocol. Accordingly, the protocol will be in force for five years.
According to the protocol, fresh bananas exported from Vietnam to China are unripe bananas that are harvested within 10-16 weeks after flowering. Ripe or cracked bananas will not be exported to China.
Fresh bananas must comply with the phytosanitary requirements specified in the protocol. At the Chinese border gate, China Customs will check the relevant documents and records of the exported bananas, and complete the quarantine inspection process.
All banana growing areas and packing facilities exported to China must be registered with the approval of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the General Administration of Customs China. Registration information includes names, addresses and codes to trace the origin of the fruit.
Before exporting, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development must send a list of registrations to the General Administration of Customs of China for approval and regular updates. This list will be published on the official website of the General Administration of Customs of China.
All banana growing areas and packing facilities exported to China must be registered and approved. (Photo: VNA)
In the long term, the protocol would enhance the linkage between banana growers, packers and exporters and promote good agricultural practices to create products of high quality, friendly to the environment and human health. Along with this, the market risks would be minimised.
Under the protocol, all banana farming areas and packaging facilities for export to China must be approved by both the MARD and the GACC. Banana farms must have growing area codes and follow Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) standards while packaging facilities are required to build an origin tracing system to ensure food safety standards before export to China.
According to the Vietnam Fruit Association, China had huge demand for bananas and there was largely untapped potential for Vietnam to expand the export of this fruit. Chinese spent around 1 billion USD every year to import bananas, 50 percent of which came from the Philippines, Cambodia 20 percent and Vietnam 16 percent.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam’s production of bananas averaged about 2.1 million tons a year. Bananas can be harvested all year round. In 2021, banana was the country's third-largest export fruit, after dragon fruits and mangoes.
China remained the largest vegetable and fruit importer of Vietnam with an import value of 1.06 billion USD worth in 2021, or 43.3 percent of the Southeast Asian country's total vegetable and fruit export value.
Banana was one among 14 types of fruits in the fruit tree development project by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to 2025 with a vision to 2030. Accordingly, banana plantation area would be increased to around 165,000-175,000 with a total yield of 2.6-3 million tonnes per year.
To date, 11 types of fresh fruits were allowed to enter China via official channels, including dragon fruit, watermelon, lychee, longan, banana, mango, jackfruit, rambutan, mangosteen, passion fruit and durian. Among them, the two sides signed protocols on phytosanitary requirements four four kinds of fruits, including mangosteen, passion fruit, durian and banana. Negotiations were underway for sweet potatoe and fresh pomelo./.
