Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Vietnamese fruit and vegetable brands facev thethreat of being pilfered, along with requirements regarding the protection ofplant varieties in export markets.

Plant varieties, which aim to stimulate the development and distribution ofnovel plant varieties, take on critical significance in this context.

Exporting Long Dinh 1 red-flesh dragon fruits poses challenges, as certainmarkets mandate that export firms possess the plant variety right of thisfruit. Fortunately, the Hoang Phat Fruit Co. Ltd. has secured the plant varietyright for Long Dinh 1 red-flesh dragon fruit from the Southern Fruit ResearchInstitute.

This firm lawfully registered the intellectual property right for this fruit in2016, with a duration of 20 years.

In January 2023, several enterprises, such as Yasaka Fruit Processing Co. Ltd.and Green Sprout Import-Export Co. Ltd., could not export Long Dinh 1 red-fleshdragon fruits to Japan because of problems relating to dragon fruit variety.

Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and VegetablesAssociation, said the company that has bought the plant variety right and theresearch work on Long Dinh 1 red-flesh dragon fruit is permitted to export thisfruit. Therefore, other subjects using that variety for export violateintellectual property rights.

For fastidious markets such as Japan, the US, Australia, and the EU, Vietnameseexporters are often asked for documents on plant variety, Nguyen said.

This problem has caused negative consequences and losses for the exportactivities of many cooperatives, farmers and enterprises of red flesh dragonfruits.

On February 16, the Department of Crop Production under the Ministry ofAgriculture and Rural Development held a meeting in HCM City to find solutionsfor this issue. The meeting had participation from the Southern Fruit ResearchInstitute and agriculture and rural development departments of provinces havinglarge areas of dragon fruit cultivation, such as Binh Dinh, Binh Thuan, Long Anand Tien Giang, and representatives of several associations and businesses.

According to the delegates at the meeting, the State management agencies shouldsoon remove the obstacles in granting variety right to avoid the abuse ofmonopoly ownership for a certain plant variety which will cause difficulties infarming and exporting fruits and vegetables.

To prevent Vietnamese vegetables and fruits exporting firms from violatingintellectual property and protected trademarks at home and abroad, policiesrelating to the registration of plant variety rights should be more reasonable.That will create a competitive advantage for Vietnamese fruit and vegetableexports in foreign markets.

As well as LD1 red flesh dragon fruit, many experts have suggested thatlocalities, businesses, facilities producing plant varieties, cooperatives andfarmers need to focus on the plant variety right for Vietnamese durianvarieties to avoid future troubles.

Especially, Vietnam is now promoting the official export of Vietnamese duriansto China, and those fruits have to compete directly with Thai durian, thebiggest competitor in this market.

Nguyen was quoted by vnbusiness.vn sayingthat China now has no requirements for the plant variety rights for Vietnamesedurian fruits, but other markets often ask for this right. Therefore, it isnecessary to register the right or protected varieties for Vietnamese durian inthe long term.

So far, the National Office of Intellectual Property, under the Ministry ofScience and Technology, has granted a certificate of trademark registration onKrong Pac Durian in Dak Lak province and Ri 6 durian variety. It has issued theGeographical Indication registration certificate No. 00080 for Cai Mon durianin Ben Tre province.

Vietnam expects to achieve an export value of 4 billion USD from fruits andvegetables this year, given the rosy signs recorded recently, according to anofficial of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association.

The association's Secretary General Dang Phuc Nguyen said with China’s completere-opening of borders, businesses now have many export advantages and can cutdown expenses. Goods will be exported in bigger volumes and enjoy fastercustoms clearance, ensuring better product quality.

China, the biggest market of Vietnamese fruits and vegetables,reopened its borders at the beginning of 2023, giving Vietnam severalopportunities to increase shipments there. Especially, fruit export holds manychances as this market always has a high demand for farm produce imports.

In addition, many protocols were signed between Vietnam and China last year toboost the export of the country’s agricultural products via the officialchannels to China. They are opening the door wider for local fruits to enterthis market.

In 2022, Vietnam gained 3.4 billion USD from fruit and vegetable exports. Ofwhich, durian shipments alone brought home over 420 million USD, mostly in thefourth quarter, after the fruit had gained the green light to enter China viathe official channel.

Durian exports to China are likely to generate 1 billion USD in 2023, bringingthe total fruit and vegetable export value to 4 billion USD, Nguyen said./.