MoIT recommends that producers and exporters of agricultural products, fruits in general, watermelons in particular, cooperate actively with Chinese importers to study and comply with regulations on quality standards (Photo: news.zing.vn)Hanoi (VNA) - The Asia-Africa Market Departmentunder the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has made some recommendationsfor Vietnamese enterprises when exporting watermelons to China.
According to the department, China’s watermelon cultivationarea is currently about two million ha, 10 percent of the total area of fruitand vegetable crops. Watermelon average output is about 73-75 million tonnesper year.
China Customs statistics showed that from 2014 to early2018, China imported an average of more than 200,000 tonnes per year with aturnover of about 30 million USD, but these figures are decreasing.
In 2017, China imported 188,300 tonnes of watermelons, worth31.8 million USD, down 7.78 percent in volume and 2.8 percent in turnovercompared to the previous year. Currently, besides Vietnam, China also importswatermelons from Malaysia and Myanmar.
In terms of quality standards, agricultural and fruitexports to China need a certificate of inspection and quarantine issued by theexporting countries’ agency.
According to information from the Vietnam Trade Officebranch in Nanning, Guangxi, China, the customs department in this locality haveasked fruit importing firms in the area to change watermelon lining materials(Vietnam mainly uses straw) during transport with non-harmful materials and noinfectious organisms (such as porous mesh) from May 2019.
Since May 2018, China has improved its management andtraceability of imported watermelons in particular and put traceability labelson imported fruit products. The list of planted gardens and packagingenterprises involved in the exports must be notified by the exportingcountries’ management agency to the Chinese side.
To minimise risks and ensure sustainable exports to theChinese market, the Asia-Africa Market Department recommended producers andexporters of agricultural products work with Chinese importers to comply withregulations on quality standards, testing, quarantine, packaging andtraceability.
If the fruit gardens and packing enterprises are not on thelist posted by China Customs, Vietnamese enterprises should contact theMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Development for guidance.-VNA
According to the department, China’s watermelon cultivationarea is currently about two million ha, 10 percent of the total area of fruitand vegetable crops. Watermelon average output is about 73-75 million tonnesper year.
China Customs statistics showed that from 2014 to early2018, China imported an average of more than 200,000 tonnes per year with aturnover of about 30 million USD, but these figures are decreasing.
In 2017, China imported 188,300 tonnes of watermelons, worth31.8 million USD, down 7.78 percent in volume and 2.8 percent in turnovercompared to the previous year. Currently, besides Vietnam, China also importswatermelons from Malaysia and Myanmar.
In terms of quality standards, agricultural and fruitexports to China need a certificate of inspection and quarantine issued by theexporting countries’ agency.
According to information from the Vietnam Trade Officebranch in Nanning, Guangxi, China, the customs department in this locality haveasked fruit importing firms in the area to change watermelon lining materials(Vietnam mainly uses straw) during transport with non-harmful materials and noinfectious organisms (such as porous mesh) from May 2019.
Since May 2018, China has improved its management andtraceability of imported watermelons in particular and put traceability labelson imported fruit products. The list of planted gardens and packagingenterprises involved in the exports must be notified by the exportingcountries’ management agency to the Chinese side.
To minimise risks and ensure sustainable exports to theChinese market, the Asia-Africa Market Department recommended producers andexporters of agricultural products work with Chinese importers to comply withregulations on quality standards, testing, quarantine, packaging andtraceability.
If the fruit gardens and packing enterprises are not on thelist posted by China Customs, Vietnamese enterprises should contact theMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Development for guidance.-VNA
VNA
