The protocol on phytosanitary requirements was signed by Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the General Administration of Customs of China on Wednesday, within the framework of the state visit to China by To Lam, Vietnam’s Party General Secretary and State President.
Under the protocol, all growing areas and packing facilities for pomelos and lemons exported to China must be registered with the agriculture ministry and approved by both the ministry and China’s customs. These facilities are required to implement strict pest control measures.
Growing areas must comply with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) requirements, including fruit bagging at least 60 days before harvest and the use of traps for fruit flies.
Packing facilities must ensure hygienic conditions and proper functional zoning, and the fruits must be sorted, classified and cleaned to remove diseased or pest-infected ones, as well as plant debris and soil residues.
Green pomelo at a factory in the former Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre (now part of Vinh Long Province). Photo by Read/Thi Ha |
The ministry said the move was the result of a well-structured technical negotiation process between the two countries’ plant protection and quarantine agencies that had been underway since 2019.
Amid steadily expanding Vietnam–China agricultural trade, the protocol underscores a shift toward transparent, standards-compliant official export channels and a more refined bilateral cooperation framework.
China remains a key market with strong demand and potential for Vietnam’s fruit exports. Building on the success of other exports, pomelos and lemons are expected to expand their market share, strengthen their position and boost overall export growth.
In the coming time, the ministry will work closely with localities, associations, businesses and producers to effectively implement the protocol, including providing guidance on regulations, standardizing growing areas and packing facilities, and strengthening inspections to ensure full compliance with China’s requirements.
Pomelo and lemon are among Vietnam’s most advantageous agricultural products. The country currently has around 106,000 hectares under pomelo, making it a major producer of the fruit globally.
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