Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese raw bird’s nests have opportunities to enter the Chinese market as an exclusive product after the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MoAE) and the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) last month agreed on consultations on quarantine, inspection, and veterinary hygiene requirements for the import of the product.
Products included under the import inspection from Vietnam to China include raw bird's nests and clean bird's nests, heard at a conference held in Hanoi on May 8.
The conference featured discussions on the implementation of the protocol on quarantine, inspection, and veterinary hygiene requirements for bird's nest products exported to China.
Speaking at the event, Duong Tat Thang, Director of the Livestock Production and Animal Health Department under the MoAE, said that in 2022, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (now the MoAE) and the GACC signed a protocol allowing Vietnamese processed bird’s nest and bird’s nest products to enter China.
Over the past four years, 13 Vietnamese enterprises have been approved to export bird's nest products to the demanding market. More than four tonnes of refined bird's nest and millions of bird's nest products worth more than 4 million USD have been officially exported to China, with over 220 bird's nest samples tested for food safety indicators.
Experts said that China is the world's largest consumer market for bird's nests, with stable and high demand. This would allow Vietnamese businesses to reach a large number of potential customers and boost sales. In addition, the legal presence of Vietnamese bird's nest in the Chinese market will enhance brand value and recognition, contributing to enhancing the reputation of the products.
Furthermore, the large demand in China will have a positive impact on domestic investment and production in the sector. Entering the Chinese market will also require Vietnamese producers to improve product quality and comply with China’s strict standards on food safety and quarantine procedures.
Currently, there are about 29,320 swallow houses in 40 out of 63 cities and provinces in Vietnam. The provinces with the largest numbers of swallow houses include Kien Giang, Tien Giang, Dak Lak and Binh Thuan.
In 2024, Vietnam produced 270 tonnes of bird’s nests, 8% higher than that of 2023. It targeted to increase the production to 350 - 400 tonne per year by 2030./.
