Consolidate control over the management of dragon fruit planting area and packaging facility codes

In Binh Thuan province, the Department of Plant Protection issued 78 planting area codes and 268 packing codes for dragon fruit.

The issuance satisfies importers' requirements for planting area and packing facility codes, ensuring the region's smooth operation and sustained development of dragon fruit farmers and packaging facilities.

However, the agency reports that many batches of fresh fruit shipped from Vietnam have lately been found to be in breach of China's phytosanitary standards owing to the presence of harmful organisms.

Additionally, the Binh Thuan Crops Production and Plant Protection Department said that the existing procedure for using codes for dragon fruit packing businesses that have been given codes has not followed the right process. It affects  the production and export of dragon fruit for international market, including China. 

As a result, Mr. Phan Van Tan, Deputy Director of the Binh Thuan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, has requested that the Sub-Department of Crops Production and Plant Protection work urgently with a number of farmers to ensure the province's dragon fruit production and export is sustainable. 

Additionally, correcting the issue of packing businesses that have not been given a code but are utilizing the code of another packer for the purpose of exporting dragon fruit. The packing establishment does not correspond to the name of the business that registered for the purpose of issuing codes and marking products for regulation-compliant handling. 

Besides, carefully monitor and control pests in dragon fruit producing regions that have been given export codes to China, with a particular emphasis on damaging aphids. If aphid species susceptible to China's phytosanitary quarantine are discovered at the planting garden or packing facility assigned the code, they must be properly treated and removed from the consignment prior to export.

Simultaneously, provide guidance on how to overcome dangerous organisms to organizations and individuals growing and packaging dragon fruit in the province, ensuring that they are aware of and comply with applicable laws.

Binh Thuan presently has about 33,750 hectares of dragon fruit, producing approximately 700,000 tons per year. China is the primary market for Binh Thuan dragon fruit exports.

Additionally, the Binh Thuan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development requested that the Sub-Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection assume primary responsibility for, and coordinate with, forming a team to inspect the use of the packing facility code, the use of the issued growing area code, and the labeling of dragon fruit business establishments in the province. If any breaches are discovered during the inspection, they must be dealt with severely in line with the law.

Additionally, the Binh Thuan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development stated that it will bolster management and oversight of the use of planting area codes and dragon fruit packing establishment codes that have been granted to organizations and individuals in the province in accordance with regulations. Actively collaborate with the Market Management Department to improve inspection and control of dragon fruit packaging facilities to ensure they are labeled in compliance with the law.