Still long way to go for Vietnamese durian

Vietnamese durian is making a name for itself as a great-tasting fruit for overseas consumers, but still has a long way to go to maintain its position on the international scene, according to insiders.

Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruits and Vegetables Association, said that China, the largest importer of fresh Vietnamese durian, has allowed the fruit to be imported via official channels from July 12.

However, these opportunities come with obstacles as the Chinese General Administration of Customs (CGAC) requires Vietnamese exporting firms and growing areas to register with the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the registrations to be sent to CGAC for approval before the fruit can enter the country.

“Durian from unregistered firms or unregistered growing areas will not be allowed to cross the border,” he said.

He also noted that registered growing areas must have quality management and a traceability system, meet good agricultural practice (GAP) standards and strictly comply with sanitary requirements to be eligible for approval.

Regarding other demanding markets such as the United States and the European Union, the general secretary said those markets

“Durian harvested from unregistered firms or unregistered growing areas will not be allowed to cross the border.” Dang Phuc Nguyen

insisted on global GAP compliance and a strict chemical residue threshold for Vietnamese durian.

Ta Duc Minh, trade counsellor of the Vietnam Trade Office in Japan, underscored this and said Japan is a market with high standards and stringent fruit regulations.

As Vietnamese durian easily entered the country between 2017 and 2020, some Vietnamese exporters took the market for granted and became less strict on quality control.

In 2021, after several batches with excessive pesticide residue were detected, Japan increased the frequency of inspections of Vietnamese durian, making it more difficult for the fruit to reach Japanese consumers.

“Three cases of Vietnamese durian violating safety standards were detected in 2021, of which one was related to fresh durian and two to frozen,” he said.

The trade counsellor recommends firms keep a close watch on quality control and strictly comply with safety standards to ensure no pesticide residues. These measures will allow the fruit to gain ground in the Japanese market.

Nguyen Phu Haa, deputy consul general in Sydney, Australia, said that country is a highend durian market too, and urged Vietnamese firms to prioritise quality rather than price.

He also called for a national trademark for Vietnamese durian, to add more value to the fruit and ensure the sustainability of its exports.

“The Vietnam Trade Office in Australia will support Vietnamese firms in media promotions to strengthen their presence in the country. Australia is a potential durian importer,” he added.