In the province of Hung Yen, longan is a critical crop with substantial economic significance. The Hung Yen longan brand has been established in numerous markets worldwide, in addition to the domestic market, over the years. To achieve these results, it has been necessary to implement a meticulous production organization and rigorous quality control in the agricultural regions. These areas have received special attention from management levels, cooperatives, and production households.
Mr. Le Minh Nam, the Deputy Director of the Hung Yen Plant Protection Department, stated that the company is committed to expanding its market presence to reduce pressure and improve consumption efficiency. In addition to the domestic market, the company is also focused on capturing a variety of global markets. The province has been in the process of establishing a production unit code (PUC) and exporting longan to the U.S. market since 2015. Currently, the province is home to 19 longan growing areas and 39 codes that are intended for export to markets in the United States, Australia, Japan, and China.
The quality of products is subject to varying standards in each import market, and inspections are consistently enhanced, both in person and online. Consequently, the establishment and administration of PUC necessitate the implementation of exceedingly stringent and rigorous standards.
The Hưng Yên Plant Protection Department conducts annual inspections and supervises the establishment and administration of the issued PUCs following regulations. The codes will be decisively revoked for those growing areas that have been issued codes if they fail to meet requirements during inspections and evaluations. A recommendation for re-issuance will only be made after the necessary standards have been met. New growing areas with organized production and suitable conditions will be closely monitored and proposed to the Plant Protection Department for negotiations to be added to the PUC list.
Furthermore, the Department works in conjunction with pertinent units to closely monitor pests, analyze samples for food safety indicators, and provide producers with guidance on the proper use of plant protection drugs and fertilizers. Special emphasis is placed on the reduction of the use of chemical plant protection drugs and fertilizers, in favor of the use of organic microbial fertilizers, new-generation biological pesticides, and nano silver, copper, and herbal preparations. This approach is intended to safeguard the environment, human health, and the risk of harmful residues in products. If plant protection medications are required, they should be used exclusively from the approved list, following the "four rights" principle, to ensure that there is sufficient withdrawal time prior to harvest.
According to Mr. Nam, the management of PUCs is not without its challenges, despite the benefits. For instance, some cooperatives that represent PUCs are not proactive enough in their role as the primary suppliers of inputs, resulting in situations where households must purchase the recommended inputs from a variety of sources at the time of the authorities' recommendation. This raises the possibility that certain households may opt for inferior products as a result of financial constraints. Additionally, a single household's violation of regulations can have a significant impact on the entire code, given the large number of households that are involved in a single PUC.