Korean melons are now exported to Vietnam after 17 years of quarantine negotiations. The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA) of South Korea reported that Korean melons were exported for the first time on Monday, marking a significant milestone following the completion of quarantine negotiations with Vietnam.
The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA), under South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, declared that the Seongju Agricultural Cooperative in North Gyeongsang Province successfully exported Korean melons to Vietnam for the first time, following the conclusion of quarantine negotiations with Vietnam in April of last year.
Since 2008, the government has been engaging in quarantine negotiations to facilitate the export of Korean farm products to Vietnam. Initially, it sought approval for 10 categories of products. By last year, agreements had reached 8 categories, including apples, pears, grapes, tomatoes, strawberries, persimmons, peppers, and melons (including sweet melons). Negotiations for the remaining two items, tangerines, and peaches, are still in progress.
Domestic melons have been exported primarily to Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan; however, this marks their export to the Vietnamese market.
To export melons to Vietnam, exporters must meet the quarantine requirements established by both countries. These include registering plantations and shipping managers, as well as verifying the presence of pumpkin fruit flies. Furthermore, exports are only allowed from farms and shipping managers that have passed inspections conducted by Vietnamese plant quarantine experts to ensure compliance with these requirements.
Kim Jung-hee, the head of the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Quarantine Division, stated that efforts will continue to pursue tailored quarantine negotiations, enabling the export of various Korean agricultural products to more countries alongside Korean melons.
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