Vietnam is intensifying quarantine over its vegetables and fruits to facilitate the export of these products to foreign markets, with a focus on the US, Japan, Australia and the Republic of Korea (RoK).

According to the Plant Protection Department, negotiations to deal with technical barriers produced significant results in 2014, helping pave the way for litchi to the US, dragon fruit to New Zealand, and mango to the RoK.

The department also has asked for Australia accelerating pest risk analysis (PRA) for Vietnamese fresh mango and dragon fruit while proposing changes to several regulations imposed on Vietnamese rice to Mexico.

Most of Vietnamese exported agro-products have met importers’ requirements on plant quarantine. Last year, 90 letters of notification of violations were issued for Vietnamese partners, a reduction of 20 percent from 2013.

This year, the department will organise activities to popularise the application of the integrated pest management (IPM) - an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management, and advanced technologies in production.

It will also intensify inspection and management over pesticides as well as working to ensure safety of vegetables and fruits.-VNA