Longans to be exported to Australia

Longan will be the fourth Vietnamese fruit to be exported to Australia, joining litchi, mango, and dragon fruit.

Announcement of fresh longans being allowed in Australia to come on August 29.

According to the Plant Protection Department at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), after a long period of negotiations and finalizing procedures, Australia’s Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources has permitted the import of Vietnamese longans to the country.

An official announcement and presentation of an export certificate will be made by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Australian Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources in Hanoi on August 29, when the latter visits Vietnam.

Australia importers require that imported longans have clear traceability and that production and quarantine are conducted according to the standards. Prior to being exported, the longans must be treated with irradiation and shipments must be checked by quarantine units of the Plant Protection Department to ensure there are no insects and that vents in the packaging are covered to prevent insect penetration.

All wood materials relating to packaging for the longans, such as wooden crates used to store the fruit, must comply with the non-merchandise information requirements policy. Wrapping material must be made of synthetic materials or highly-processed materials if they are of plant origin. Packaging is not to be made from unprocessed plant materials like straw.

Specific information must be clearly printed on the packaging, including a stamp stating “Product of Vietnam for the Australian market”, the type of fruit, the packinghouse code number, the treatment facility code, and treatment identification numbers.

When transporting fruit by sea, the number of containers and the seal number of the shipment must be confirmed and recorded on the plant quarantine certificate or on commercial documents. If certified on the bill of lading, the number of plant quarantine certificates must also be clearly stated.

When cargo arrives, the Vietnamese exporter needs to provide relevant certificates and documents to the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources to assess and verify compliance with import conditions before customs clearance.

The Vietnam Trade Office in Australia noted that, before importing fruit into Australia, importers need to have a valid Import License issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources. This license is granted once exporters satisfy the conditions for importing longans into Australia.

According to MARD, Vietnamese longans are being been exported to dozens of countries and territories around the world, with major quantities going to China. The most difficult market is the US.

Following these exports to Australia, the Plant Protection Department is actively promoting the export of longans to Japan and South Korea.