Export certification delays have caused Vietnamese growers to either discard or liquidate substantial volumes of GlobalGAP-certified dragon fruit. Chairman Huynh Canh of the Binh Thuan Dragon Fruit Association reported on July 23 that numerous enterprises have taken this course due to the sluggish issuance of phytosanitary certificates necessary for exports to Europe.
A representative from Son Tra Co., Ltd., Lam Dong Province, confirmed that after protracted waits for certificates, the company disposed of roughly 40 tons of dragon fruit meant for European markets, leading to losses amounting to billions of Vietnamese dongs. The company currently holds 70 additional tons at peak ripeness that could face similar outcomes if certification delays persist.
Similarly, Chairman Tran Dinh Trung of Thuan Tien Dragon Fruit Cooperative noted that approximately 50 tons remain unsold in cold storage for over two weeks. The cooperative has resorted to offloading stock at fire-sale prices between $0.04–$0.08 per kilogram, substantially below the cost price of over $0.79 per kilogram.
The Binh Thuan Dragon Fruit Association anticipates that tens of thousands of tons could encounter the same predicament absent timely certification. They emphasize that "European buyers require small-sized fruit that meets GlobalGAP standards. If we cannot export to Europe, these fruits have no other viable market."
The issue surfaced due to European regulations mandating Vietnamese state-authorized phytosanitary certificate issuance. Despite responsibilities designated to the HCMC Food Safety Department by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, no progress has been made. The department awaits additional guidance due to legislative ambiguities in Circular No.12 and Decision No.2286.
To address procedural uncertainties, the department has requested further directives from the ministry. Meanwhile, exporters continue to submit required documentation, awaiting responses pivotal for accessing European markets.
Source: Saigon News
