Frozen durian exports could reach 300 million USD in 2024

To implement the "Protocol on requirements for inspection, plant quarantine and food safety for frozen durian exports from Vietnam to China", on the morning of September 19, the Plant Protection Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development held an online conference to disseminate regulations on exporting frozen durian to the Chinese market.

Durian exported to China. Photo: Hong Dat/VNA

According to Mr. Huynh Tan Dat, Director of the Plant Protection Department, the signed decree is of great significance to the Vietnamese durian industry, promising a breakthrough in the export turnover of this fruit in the coming time. With the recently signed protocol, with current capacity and market demand, China forecasts that Vietnam's frozen durian export turnover in 2024 can reach 300 million USD if it completes business registration early to start exporting. Vietnamese enterprises exporting frozen products will have less pressure in complying with regulations on plant quarantine (potentially harmful organisms accompanying fresh fruit) and can sell deep into mainland China thanks to the long preservation time. Frozen durian can be exported by road, sea and air. The export potential is great, but according to Mr. Huynh Tan Dat, Vietnamese frozen durian will face many challenges and need to be identified and prepared to respond. In particular, the issue of ensuring food safety and hygiene requirements, packaging processes, traceability and food safety and hygiene control processes. According to Mr. Huynh Tan Dat, enterprises need to constantly improve freezing technology, product quality and product traceability systems, and control the frozen durian production process. Improving technology as well as product quality must start from the production stage to packaging and transportation, especially equipment and freezing warehouses. Units need to strengthen inspection and supervision of food safety and plant quarantine in growing areas and packaging facilities to ensure that no errors occur that could affect the quality of the final product. Along with that, there must be a traceability system and measures to manage and monitor harmful organisms and food safety and hygiene in a scientific and effective manner. Mr. Huynh Tan Dat directed units of the Plant Protection Department to continue providing technical and regulatory support; Training, propaganda... for localities, associations, growing areas, packaging facilities, export enterprises. Regularly contact the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) to promptly resolve arising issues, act as a focal point for information exchange with the Chinese side and promptly inform localities when needed. Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development of provinces and cities propagate, train; support enterprises, associations... to raise awareness for people as well as to comply well with Chinese regulations on frozen durian. Localities step up inspection and examination of compliance with regulations on plant quarantine and food safety in the production, packaging of frozen durian and in the use of codes, promptly detect and handle violations. Export enterprises, packaging facilities, and frozen durian processors carefully study Chinese regulations and strictly comply with the requirements of the protocol; proactively build real links from growing areas to packaging facilities and exporting enterprises, build a traceability system to ensure traceability when required, Mr. Huynh Tan Dat emphasized. Providing detailed information about the regulations of the protocol, Mr. Nguyen Quang Hieu, Deputy Director of the Plant Protection Department, said that frozen durian from Vietnam is allowed to be imported into China, including whole durian (with shell), pureed durian (without shell) and durian pulp (without shell), originating from fresh, ripe durian grown in Vietnam. Durian is frozen at -35°C or below for at least 1 hour until the core temperature reaches -18°C or below and is maintained at a core temperature of -18°C or below throughout storage and transport in accordance with the requirements of the International Food Standard - "Code of Practice for the Processing and Handling of Quick Frozen Foods" (CAC/RCP 8-1976).

Frozen durian exported from Vietnam to China must comply with the laws, regulations and standards related to food safety and plant quarantine of China. Frozen durian for export must be selected to remove rotten and damaged fruits and ensure that they do not contain impurities. Raw materials for frozen durian for export must come from durian gardens that are registered, managed and supervised. Facilities for producing, processing and preserving frozen durian for export must be registered with Chinese customs. Packaging materials for frozen durian for export must be clean, hygienic, unused, and comply with food safety and plant quarantine requirements. Each box must be labeled in Chinese or English including the product name; origin; name and registration code of the production or processing facility; name and address of the exporter; date of manufacture; expiry date and the words "This product is being exported to the People's Republic of China", Mr. Nguyen Quang Hieu emphasized. At the conference, specialized units of the Plant Protection Department answered all questions from farmers, cooperatives, and businesses related to the export of frozen durian. Typically, regarding plant quarantine, Mr. Le Son Ha, Head of the Plant Quarantine Department, added that the quarantine certification for frozen durian will be different from that of fresh fruit products. Because frozen durian has food safety requirements for: impurities, heavy metals, microorganisms harmful to humans, etc. In 2023, China spent about 6.7 billion USD to import fresh durian and 1 billion USD to import frozen durian from Thailand and Malaysia. Vietnam has an advantage in raw material sources when it has durian harvested year-round. However, when exporting frozen durian to China, the advantages of logistics costs and geographical proximity will be eliminated compared to competitors such as Thailand and Malaysia.

Baotintuc.vn

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/xuat-khau-sau-rieng-dong-lanh-co-the-dat-300-trieu-usd-ngay-trong-nam-2024-20240919125239852.htm