(VOVWORLD) - A protocol regarding quarantine requirements placed on watermelon exported from Vietnam to China has been signed, paving the way for Vietnamese fresh watermelon to officially enter the lucrative market.
The protocol was signed by representatives of the Plant Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and General Administration of Customs of China within the framework of Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping’s State visit to Vietnam.
The protocol stipulates that fresh Vietnamese watermelon must comply with Chinese laws, regulations, and standards related to food hygiene and safety, as well as requirements placed on plant quarantine. The juicy fruit must not be contaminated with five Chinese plant quarantine subjects.
Moreover, all growing areas registered for export to China must build a quality management and traceability system, apply Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), and ensure conditions such as supervision of the cultivating gardens and packaging process.
Vietnam has 13 agricultural products officially licensed to enter China, comprising of bird's nests, sweet potato, dragon fruit, longan, rambutan, mango, jackfruit, watermelon, banana, mangosteen, lychee, passion fruit, and durian.
According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, by the end of November Vietnam earned 3.4 billion USD from exporting fruit and vegetables to China, marking an increase of 2.6 times over the same period last year.