Vietnamese lychee granted geographical indication protection from Japan

Thieu lychee, a unique fruit of the northern province of Bac Giang, has been granted a geographical indication certificate in Japan.

Lychee is sold at Japan's supermarkets. Photo: kinhtedothi

Japan is one of the toughest markets in the world with strict food safety and hygiene standards. “The issuance of the certification will help the lychee in Luc Ngan district widen exports to other countries,” Chairman of Bac Giang Provincial People's Committee Le Anh Duong said.

According to the Department of Industry and Trade of Bac Giang province, about 200 tons Vietnamese fresh lychees were exported to Japan in 2020.

Bac Giang provice is growing lychee in more than 15,000 ha of which 298 ha have been applied the Global Good Agricultural Practices (GlobalGAP) and Vietnamese Good Agricultural Practices (VietGAP) for yielding high-quality organic fruit for domestic consumption and export.

Recently, the Vietnamese ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Industry and Trade have granted codes for a total acreage of 103 hectares under lychee cultivation of 19 production units and 107 households with a total output of 600 tones.

This year, Bac Giang province is expected to grant codes to another 219 ha under lychee cultivation of 11 production units for exporting to Japan. The total output is expected to reach 1,500 tons.

The Plant Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is also in the process of evaluating and appraising the production procedures in order to grant area codes for lychees in the coming time.

Thieu lychees have been exported to 30 countries such as China and the EU, Russia, the US and Canada.

Lychee is the fourth fruit from Vietnam that has successfully made inroad into the Japanese market, following dragon fruit, mango and banana.