Chinese media reported from Sept. 17 that China temporarily suspended imports of Vietnamese dragon fruit at the pontoon bridge crossing between Dongxing, China, and Mong Cai, Vietnam for one week after discovering traces of SARS-CoV-2 on dragon fruit packaging boxes.
On Sept. 16, Chinese authorities notified Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade that customs clearance had been suspended. In the pontoon bridge area, customs clearances of dragon fruit were scheduled to automatically resume at 11 p.m. on Sept. 21 unless further testing on dragon fruit or any other items came back positive before then, in which case the suspension would be extended by one week. The suspension will be extended by four weeks if the virus is then detected for a third time.
Vietnamese exporters of dragon fruit have been advised by the Ministry of Industry and Trade to update their customs information and coordinate with Chinese business partners on alterations to their delivery routes as soon as possible. Furthermore, the ministry recommends Vietnamese provinces and entrepreneurs actively inspect and investigate how agricultural products, especially fruit, are harvested, packaged, processed and shipped, to ensure a better promotion of the consumption of agricultural products during the pandemic.
Due to the outbreak of viruses in Vietnam, China has increased the inspection of fruit entering the country at its borders. Recently, border gates have been closed several times because of outbreaks. Chinese border posts at Hekou-Lao Cai and Tianbao-Thanh Thuy temporarily suspended the introduction of Vietnamese dragon fruits. In the month following these suspensions, Vietnamese dragon fruit prices fell sharply. In other ports, too, strict disinfection procedures caused long clearance times.
The suspensions of Vietnamese ports, delays in clearance procedures, and interruptions of domestic production and distribution have resulted in a drop in exports to China. Vietnamese vegetables and fruits exports to China have decreased by an average of 15% each month since May, according to Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Vegetable and Fruit Association.
