On June 3, the Plant Protection Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) coordinated with plant quarantine experts from Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to inspect and evaluate the treatment system for fresh lychees for export to Japan with Rong’s methyl bromide Do Production, Trade and Service Co., Ltd., Ameii Vietnam Joint Stock Company located in Thanh Ha District (Hai Duong) and Global Food Import Export Joint Stock Company located in Phuong Son Municipality (Luc Ngan, Bac Giang). Japan’s import quarantine regulations for Vietnamese lychee.
The plant quarantine officer of the Ministry of Plant Protection and Japanese experts jointly inspected the treatment system of Vietnamese companies for fresh lychee exported to Japan with methyl bromide. Picture: Trung Quan.
During the inspection, Japanese experts and the plant quarantine officer of the plant protection department inspected and evaluated the system of treatment chambers and fruit and vegetable treatment equipment. All indicators are carefully compared by Japanese experts with the detailed quarantine regulations that Japan officially announced in 2019.
At the end of the inspection, experts from Japan highly appreciated the participation of the Plant Protection Department and the careful preparation in all aspects of the Vietnamese exporters of fresh lychee when all the control indicators met. All inspections fully met the standards prescribed by the Japanese side.
All three processing plants are approved by Japan and can immediately process the fresh lychees exported to Japan as planned.
Mr. Le Son Ha, head of the Plant Quarantine Department (Plant Protection Department), said that after a two-year hiatus due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, experts from Japan will visit Vietnam directly this year to check and assess the situation and oversee the handling of each batch of fresh lychees exported to the Japanese market.
Only batches of lychee that are monitored by Japanese experts in coordination with Vietnam’s plant quarantine officials and ensure Japan’s phytosanitary requirements may be exported to this market.
All indicators are carefully checked, compared and contrasted by Japanese experts according to the regulations. Picture: Trung Quan.
According to Mr. Ha, the fact that experts came from Japan for direct inspection and supervision did not make Vietnamese companies feel pressured, since the companies under the direction of the crop protection department have had experience and careful preparation in recent years the standards featured by your side.
In contrast, Japanese experts, in cooperation with the plant quarantine officer of the plant protection department, have inspected the handling, packaging and sealing process, and the Vietnam plant quarantine authority has issued a quarantine certificate. Exporting the plants directly at the processing plant facilitates the shipment of fresh lychee, reducing the transportation, inspection and clearance time at the border gate before entering the Japanese market.
If the Japanese experts and the quarantine officer of the phytosanitary department at the same time conduct a direct inspection of the shipments, and the experts on your side have concerns or need further clarification of relevant content, the phytosanitary department staff will promptly explain, exchange and agree to create favorable conditions for create exporting companies.
After the inspection, the Japanese expert found that the processing system of three companies’ fresh lychees exported to Japan fully met the prescribed standards. Picture: Trung Quan.
In addition, the direct inspection by Japanese experts in the production area and the fresh lychee processing plant will provide a “nudge” for Vietnamese people and businesses to raise their awareness of the promotion of lychee production. In a safe direction to produce high quality lychees, not only exported to Japan, but also to other markets such as Australia and the United States. This improves the value and competitiveness of the fruit. Vietnamese lychees increase people’s income.
This year, experts from Japan will visit Vietnam directly to inspect, assess and monitor the handling of each batch of fresh lychee exported to the Japanese market. Picture: Trung Quan.
Mr Ha added that according to information from companies this year, due to the preparation at the beginning of the harvest and the possibility of reducing the quarantine period at the border gate, the units’ lychee production is expected to be brought back to the market. The Japanese market will be higher than last year.
At present, all companies have received many orders from the Japanese side. That bodes well for Vietnam’s fresh lychee.
However, Mr. Ha also recommended that Japan is a market with very high requirements for plant quarantine, quality and food safety. Therefore, Vietnamese companies need to prepare the sources of goods well according to the standards set by the Japanese side. Since then, favorable conditions for phytosanitary activities have been created and the effective brand of Vietnamese lychee in this demanding market has been confirmed step by step.