Econ
Australia certified to irradiate Vietnamese lychees export
On June 20, Australia’s Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has certified the Hanoi Irradiation Centre to irradiate Vietnamese lychees exported to the market.
A lychee packaging facility for export
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The lychees will go through irradiation treatment in Hanoi instead of being shipped to the south, which helps reduce transport cost and time. The outcome was attributed to the close cooperation between the Vietnamese Plant Protection Department, Australian competent agencies, and the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, as well as the active engagement of the Hanoi Irradiation Centre and businesses.
Head of the Plant Protection Department Hoang Trung said the centre will help lychee exporters reduce cost by around 16 million VND (over 717.4 USD) per tonne. According to Australian regulations, to enter the market, the Vietnamese fresh lychees must apply cultivation measures to mitigate harmful organisms and ensure quality and safety under the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).
Farmers have to record the production process to facilitate the trace of their fruits’ origin. The fresh lychees must be transported to the registered packaging and labeling facilities for further examination at the Plant Protection Department.
The fruits will be treated at Son Son and An Phu irradiation companies and Hanoi Irradiation Centre. The Vietnamese plant inspection agencies will grant phytosanitary certificates to batches that satisfy the market’s requirements.
Irradiation is considered a safe technology that helps kill all bacteria and microorganisms and keep fruit fresh for longer periods, even up to a few months. According to Nguyen Hoang Thuy, Head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Australia, Vietnamese lychee will find a foothold in Australia, given the fruit has thus far received a positive market response.
The Trade Office will conduct promotion campaigns in the other Australian cities to support the fruit’s consumption in the host market, she added. Vietnamese lychee has been lauded by consumers for its quality and taste. Vietnam has shipped about 30 tonnes of lychees to Australia.
All of the lychees will be sold in wholesale markets and supermarkets in Australia. After this first shipment, his company plans to buy as much as possible if customers in Australia like the Vietnamese lychees.
