Vietnam tightens fruit inspections after warning from China

The Plant Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has requested that local authorities and relevant agencies enhance inspections and monitoring of cultivation areas and export packing facilities for fresh fruit, including durians and jackfruit.

Durians being prepared for export. (Photo: phunuonline.com.vn)
Durians being prepared for export. (Photo: phunuonline.com.vn)

Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - The Plant Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has requested that local authorities and relevant agencies enhance inspections and monitoring of cultivation areas and export packing facilities for fresh fruit, including durians and jackfruit.

This requirement was issued after the department received a notification from China's General Administration of Customs regarding the shipments of the fruit exported from Vietnam.

These shipments failed to meet China's phytosanitary and food safety requirements, potentially damaging the reputation and branding of Vietnam’s agricultural products in international markets.

To address this issue, the department is developing plans and monitoring food safety and export fruit quality standards at facilities that have been provided with codes. Facilities failing to comply with regulations will temporarily suspend the codes for growing areas and packaging facilities.

The department also instructed cultivation areas and packing facilities to strictly adhere to inspections for pesticide residue, heavy metals, and traceability as mandatory conditions for obtaining and maintaining production codes.

To assist these cultivation areas and packing facilities in protecting their production codes, the department asked provincial Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development to inform and guide code holders.

If they allow other organisations or individuals to export products from their areas or facilities, they must submit a written notice to the provincial agency responsible for issuing and managing codes, including the anticipated export volume and exporter names for the year.

Upon receiving these notices, the provincial agencies must compile reports and submit them to the Plant Protection Department, while also updating the database. This information will serve as the basis for regional plant quarantine sub-departments to process phytosanitary procedures. Implementation is set to begin on January 20.

In late December 2024, the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association raised the alarm over the illegal replication and misuse of planting area and packaging facility codes for durians.

This fraudulent activity, involving unauthorised contracts, counterfeit stamps and forged signatures, aims to bypass regulatory inspections and export durians to China.

Vietnam has established itself as a new giant in the global durian market, with export value reaching 3.3 billion USD in 2024.

According to investors’ reports, the country’s durian exports experienced a 7.8-fold increase compared to 2022, accounting for nearly 50% of its total fruit and vegetable shipment value./.

VNA

See more

In 2025, Goertek will invest in a new project and bring more experts and new technology equipment to Vietnam. (Photo: Goertek)

Vietnam expects big FDI wave in 2025

More than 4.33 billion USD in foreign investment was registered in Vietnam in January, an increase of 48.6% compared to the same period last year.

The Lao Bao border gate, Huong Hoa district, Quang Tri province. (Photo: VNA)

Nearly 200 projects registered in Quang Tri's IPs

Two economic zones and two industrial parks in the central province of Quang Tri have so far attracted nearly 200 investment projects, with a total registered capital exceeding 172.4 trillion VND (6.78 billion USD) and a planned land use of over 5,978ha.

At the meeting (Photo: VNA)

PM urges business leaders to drive economic growth

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh encouraged businesses to actively engage in large-scale national projects, such as the North-South high-speed railway, standard-gauge railways connecting with China, urban railways, and the nuclear power project.

Production at Minerals Holding Corporation in Lao Cai province. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam’s industrial production inches up 0.6% in January

According to Director of the GSO’s Industry and Construction Statistics Department Phi Thi Huong Nga, Vietnam could achieve breakthrough industrial growth in 2025 and beyond by leveraging its advantages and accelerating digital and green transformation as well as meeting the increasingly stringent requirements of the international market.