Food Safety Department of Ho Chi Minh City has certified five batches of dragon fruit, totaling five tons, for export to the European market, according to the Binh Thuan Dragon Fruit Association.

The move follows Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s urgent directive to address administrative hurdles in food safety certification. Hundreds of tons of dragon fruit and peppers in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong are reportedly stuck in cold storage because they lack the necessary certification to meet EU import requirements, Association Chairman Huynh Canh told Thanh Nien Newspaper.

The prime minister requested urgent measures to prevent disruptions to Vietnam’s agricultural exports and safeguard the reputation of its produce in global markets.

The Minister of Agriculture and Environment and the Chairman of Lam Dong Province have been tasked with resolving the procedural issues that have been blocking food safety certifications for dragon fruit and pepper exports to the EU.

Local farmers harvest dragon fruit in Lam Dong Province. Photo: Lam Dong Newspaper

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has been tasked with coordinating with relevant agencies to align export documentation with EU standards, ease supply chain congestion, and prevent damage to Vietnam’s reputation as a reliable supplier of agricultural products.

Provincial and municipal governments have also been ordered to fulfill their responsibilities regarding the licensing and inspection of food safety for exports.

The Binh Thuan Dragon Fruit Association has warned that the prolonged lag is paralyzing the sector. "If the situation continues, businesses will stop buying, and farmers will be unable to sell their crops."

The Vietnam Pepper and Spices Association has expressed similar concerns, noting that 250 tons of spices, worth roughly US$2.4 million, are currently on hold. Further delays could cause substantial financial losses, the group warned.

Several major EU importers have cautioned that they may switch to alternative suppliers if Vietnam fails to deliver on schedule.

Dragon fruit, along with durian, coconut, mango, banana, jackfruit, pistachio, passion fruit, almond, and chili pepper, is a key driver of exports for Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable sector. In the first half of 2025, the total export turnover of fruits and vegetables was estimated at $3 billion, down 9.7% year-on-year.

In 2024, Vietnam’s dragon fruit exports reached $516 million, a 16% decrease from 2023.