Cashew nuts are proposed to be removed from the plant quarantine list.

SGGPO 09/28/2023 21:07

Mr. Le Son Ha, Head of Plant Quarantine Department, Plant Protection Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) said that he will propose to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to remove this item from the plant quarantine list, because the risk is almost non-existent.

On the afternoon of September 28, at a meeting to disseminate legal regulations on import and export plant quarantine organized by the Plant Protection Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) in Ho Chi Minh City, acknowledging the previous reflection of the Binh Phuoc Cashew Association on the obstacles and difficulties for businesses processing and exporting cashew nuts, Mr. Le Son Ha, Head of the Plant Quarantine Department (KTV) said that he will propose to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to remove this item from the KTV list, because there is almost no risk.

Previously, Mr. Vu Thai Son, Chairman of Binh Phuoc Cashew Association, said that during the processing, the cashew nuts were cooked very thoroughly. Raw cashews were steamed at a temperature above 100 degrees Celsius for over 30 minutes. Cashew nuts with silk shells were then dried at a temperature of 70-80 degrees Celsius for 18 hours. Before packaging, the cashew nuts were fumigated, then vacuum-packed and preserved for 24 months.

Countries like the United States and Australia, despite having very strict phytosanitary regulations on imported plant products, only inspect cashew nuts from Vietnam with a probability of less than 1%. Because they consider cashew nuts as cooked food.

In addition, the Plant Protection Department also explained and guided businesses about some difficulties in determining the origin of seeds imported from third countries, about importing wheat flour, about electronic signatures...

Điều là một trong những mặt hàng xuất khẩu chủ lực của nông sản Việt Nam, vừa gặp vướng mắc thời gian qua ảnh 1

Cashew is one of the main agricultural export products of Vietnam, which has encountered difficulties recently.

According to the representative of the Plant Protection Department, to issue a Plant Quarantine Certificate for export or re-export, it is necessary to check the validity of the growing area code, the packaging facility, and to check compliance with the conditions for issuance. Especially fresh fruit and vegetable products such as dragon fruit, longan, lychee, mango, rambutan, star apple, lemon, grapefruit, mangosteen, watermelon, jackfruit, banana, black jelly and sweet potato exported to markets in China, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Japan, the EU, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, etc. This is a mandatory requirement of import markets and international practices to ensure compliance with regulations on plant quarantine, food safety and traceability.

Regarding imported plant quarantine, enterprises need to understand the regulations, procedures, and activities of food safety inspection of imported plant-based goods, state inspection of the quality of imported animal feed; issuance of transit plant quarantine certificates... which are being carried out at regional plant quarantine sub-departments (under the Plant Protection Department).

Currently, the requirement is to promote market opening, create favorable conditions for trade of goods between Vietnam and other countries in the world. Plant quarantine must simplify procedures, ensure compliance with Vietnamese laws and regulations, but also meet the requirements of importing countries, and enhance the value, quality and reputation of Vietnamese agricultural products, comply with commitments in the Agreement on the application of food safety and animal and plant quarantine measures (SPS) of the WTO and FTA trade agreements that Vietnam has signed.

Mr. Dang Van Hoang, Head of the Plant Quarantine Sub-Department Region 2, said that the meeting aimed to clarify regulations and administrative procedures, as well as to accompany businesses in effectively implementing import and export plant quarantine regulations. Businesses need to clearly understand domestic regulations as well as update changes in importing countries from partners to avoid violations, causing damage to business interests as well as the image of Vietnamese agricultural products.

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