According to Ngo Xuan Nam, deputy director of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s SPS Office, on Wednesday, the General Administration of China Customs announced 51 durian planting area codes and 25 packing facility codes that meet Chinese phytosanitary protocol requirements.
Vietnamese durians have been officially exported to China from today, September 8
The General Administration of Chinese Customs conducted an online assessment of 106 durian growing areas and 29 packaging facilities in Vietnam from August 12 to September 3 to grant the export codes.
Vietnam's Plant Protection Department have also arranged staff to support the Chinese inspections.
The protocol on phytosanitary requirements for Vietnamese durian exported to China stipulates that all growing areas registered for export to China must build quality management and traceability systems, apply Good Agricultural Practices, and ensure land is clean and located away from sources of pollution, and immediately removing fallen and rotten fruits.
China remains the largest importer of Vietnamese durian, but was previously sold on an ad-hoc, unofficial basis across the border.
Last year, Vietnam's durian output reached around 600,000 tonnes, up 15 percent year-on-year.