Mixed feelings about issuing the planting area code for durian

Official export is the goal

The General Department of Customs of China has just granted 76 codes of growing areas and durian packing facilities of Vietnam that are allowed to export to China.

Specifically, the General Department of Customs of China has issued 51 planting area codes, of which Dak Lak is the most granted unit with 23 codes. For packing facilities, the General Administration of Customs of China also granted 25 codes, of which Tien Giang had the most with 10 codes.

When the Chinese side announced the list of units granted codes, businesses were excited because Vietnam's durian fruit was finally officially exported to China after a long time of preparation. 

Mr. Le Minh Tam, Director of Thien Tam Agricultural Products Trading Co., Ltd (Krong Pac district, Dak Lak province) was pleased. After a long time of preparation and inspection, the unit received a planting area code to export durian officially to China.

According to Mr. Tam, China is currently a demanding market, so the granting of planting area codes and packing base codes are under careful inspection. For the test, the unit has set up records of planting area codes and packing base codes for the Chinese side to pass. 

The director added that receiving a code is one of the steps for durian to be officially exported to China. To obtain the planting area code, the unit packing facility has been preparing everything from the infrastructure to the planting garden... for many months. 

Currently, the company is expanding the planting area code for some localities of Dak Lak province such as Cu M'gar, Krong Buk, Krong Nang, Krong Pak… Businesses strive to reach from 6,000 to 7,000 ha of durian qualified as a packing base code to ensure export conditions to China.  

“Businesses hope that the receiving of codes will keep up with the durian crop of Dak Lak, serving official export to China in this period. The business will export all the durian left in Dak Lak. At the end of the crop, the durian will be brought to Tien Giang to continue exporting because the business has also built the planting area code there", Mr. Tam said. 

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Kien, Director of CHH Vietnam Agricultural Products Investment Joint Stock Company (Krong Pac district, Dak Lak province) said that the business received a packing code from the General Administration of Customs of China.

According to Mr. Kien, businesses have been given the code for about a week in a non-official way. The business has developed an export plan for information on the sidelines. After the Chinese side publishes the list of export packing facilities, the business will wait for the issuance of a shipment code. 

“The plan between the company and the Chinese partner is ready for all procedures. Now the company is just waiting for the final agreement between Vietnam and China to issue codes for shipments for export. If the shipment code is granted, the company will proceed with the export, "said Mr. Kien.

According to Mr. Kien, the export of durian has been the expectation and dream of farmers and authorities for many years. Now that the Chinese side has official information, this is a good and open thing for Vietnam's durian industry. When exporting officially, farmers will benefit first because prices increase. The increase in profit depends on the market and the season between the two sides.

“The official export will help Vietnam's durian compete with other countries and improve our position. In addition, official export will bring great profits to people and businesses, "said Mr. Kien.

Disappointment in not receiving the code

In addition to the units that receive planting area codes and packing facilities; many other cases and localities, although proposed, did not receive planting area codes from the Chinese side. The failure to receive the code was disappointing, but these units said they would prepare carefully for the inspection soon.

Mr. Pham Duc Canh, Tam Hong Phuc Cooperative (Dak Nong) said that the cooperative has 15.5 ha of durian as a dossier to propose a planting area code in the last batch. 

According to Mr. Canh, the cooperative set up records and prepared the requirements of the Chinese side. After an assessment, the General Administration of Customs of China did not approve and issue a code to the unit. 

“When setting up the dossier, the Chinese side held an online check and exchanged procedures. The cooperative has not received any notification why it failed. Currently, the cooperative has organized production according to the process for the Chinese side to issue the planting area code to increase the selling price. 

However, if the cooperative is not granted a planting area code in this phase, it will prepare well for the next one. In the first phase, the Chinese side evaluated rigorously and selected large-scale units. The unit will continue to try in the next batch even without results”, Mr. Canh said. He also added that the cooperative does not know what it is lacking or where it is ineffective.

According to Mr. Canh, if the cooperative knows that it is not successful at any stage, the cooperative will be better prepared for the next batch of codes. In particular, cooperatives that have undergone an audit should have experience in setting up records.

Similarly, Mr. Bui Phu Ton, head of household Bui Phu Ton (Dak Nia commune, Gia Nghia city, Dak Nong province) built a registration file for granting a planting area code for his family's 30ha. However, the General Administration of Customs of China did not issue the planting area code to Mr. Sun's family in the last batch.

Mr. Bui Phu Ton said that the family was a bit disappointed not being granted a code this time. “If I do business but can't export this time, I will lose an opportunity. However, if this batch fails, they will continue to prepare documents for the next batch of codes. With the experience in the last inspection, I hope to receive a code from the Chinese side," said Mr. Ton.

According to Mr. Ton, to be checked by the Chinese side, the family had prepared 3-4 months from the stage of setting up the profile and planting area. When checking online, the Chinese side also did not report that the family lacked or did not achieve anything. 

“If I can't do business this time, I will try it next time. Everyone wants to receive a code to export, but they have to accept it when they don’t receive the code." Mr. Ton said. 

Dak Lak proposed to be the first province to export durian to China

Mr. Le Van Thanh, Director of the Sub-Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection (Department of MARD of Dak Lak Province) said that the General Administration of Customs of China issued 23 planting area codes and 4 packing base codes to units in the area. According to Mr. Thanh, Dak Lak is the locality with the highest number of planting area codes in the country in this period. 

After receiving the information, the Department of MARD met to have a written proposal to MARD, requesting Dak Lak to be the first exporter of durian with official certification to China. 

“Even though Dak Lak proposes, it must wait for MARD to agree, then the locality will develop a plan. While waiting for the Ministry's approval, the Sub-Department and the Department actively worked with the Krong Pac district to agree on several contents. In the coming days, the Krong Pac district and the Sub-Department will meet with four businesses that have received codes to decide on the contents and choose the first export unit", Mr. Thanh informed.