"Passport" for lychee to enter fastidious markets

In the joint statement during Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc's official visit to Japan in 2017, the Prime Ministers of the two countries affirmed their readiness to facilitate the implementation of procedures for the exports of Japanese orange and mandarin to Vietnam and Vietnamese lychee and longan to Japan, and promote cooperation in the GI protection.

Luc Ngan lychee became the first product of Vietnam officially granted a geographical indication certificate in Japan. File photo.

Since then, Luc Ngan lychee, Binh Thuan dragon fruit and Buon Ma Thuot coffee were the three products selected for GI registration in Japan within the framework of the cooperation agreement between the National Office of Intellectual Property under the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam and the Food Industry Affairs Bureau under the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries to promote Vietnam's geographical indications to Japanese consumers.

As a demanding market with strict regulations on the protection of geographical indications, the registration of GI for Luc Ngan lychee in Japan was extremely complicated.

Dinh Huu Phi, Director of the National Office of Intellectual Property, said that the department provided support through two ways: completing the application for registration of GI protection that fully satisfied Japanese legal regulations and actively persuading agencies at all levels to accelerate the progress. This process took almost 2 years and was really difficult.

According to Nguyen Thanh Binh, Director of the Bac Giang provincial Department of Science and Technology, in order to speed up the progress and meet the set requirements, his department worked with central agencies and relevant units to focus on completing the criteria. Accordingly, it advised the provincial People’s Committee to allocate funds, take drastic measures and coordinate with reputable units and experts accepted by Japan to participate in certifying the factors such as laboratories and testing systems as meeting international standards.

With the engagement of many agencies, organizations and individuals, these difficulties were gradually resolved, helping to complete the necessary registration processes in line with the provisions of Japanese law. And on March 12, 2021, Luc Ngan lychee became the first product of Vietnam officially granted a geographical indication certificate in Japan.

Challenges after GI protection

However, the successful registration of geographical indication for Luc Ngan lychee in Japan is just the first step to create a competitive advantage for the product in the Japanese market. It will need more efforts from many parties, agencies at different levels and ministries for Luc Ngan lychee to continue to maintain and further expand its foothold in this fastidious market.

The announcement on Luc Ngan lychee in Bac Giang of Vietnam obtaining geographical indication protection in Japan.

Binh said that the management of Luc Ngan lychee geographic indication after protection will continue to be a big challenge for authorities and agencies at all levels, especially Bac Giang province. Annually, they have to make internal assessments of product quality according to the protected geographical indication criteria and regularly update them on the system for product purchasing partners to grasp.

In addition, in order to have good criteria, there must be good products and the most important thing is that people need to comply with the technical process in production to create products that both have a beautiful appearance and meet food hygiene and safety standards. Thus, the responsibility of producers must be raised as it decides on the product quality - the core factor to promote the value after the GI protection.

In the immediate future, the Bac Giang provincial Department of Science and Technology will focus on promoting lychee consumption by connecting central agencies, businesses and cooperatives which purchase and export lychee with gardeners. It is completing the dossier, through the Ministry of Science and Technology, to propose the Prime Minister recognize lychee as a national product in May 2021.

This year, lychee is forecast to enjoy a bumper crop thanks to favorable weather and farmers’ more experience and application of many new technological advances in intensive farming. In the 2021 crop, the lychee area of Bac Giang province is expected to reach about 28,000 ha (compared to 15,000 ha in 2020).

Not only the output is forecast to increase, but the quality and value of lychee will improve. Especially, the area of safe organic lychees meeting VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards continues to be expanded, accounting for about 60 percent of the total area. Obtaining geographical indication protection will also create favorable conditions for Luc Ngan lychee to be exported to Japan and expand its consumption in other markets.

Honey-making season in VietGAP lychee gardens in Bac Giang

(BGO) - In March, the white lychee flowers bloom in the hilly orchards in Luc Ngan district, Bac Giang province. The aroma and sweetness of nectar attracts bees to make honey. This is also an opportunity for beekeepers from many places to come to the lychee growing areas in Bac Giang.

Bac Giang promotes lychee consumption through Vinmart and Vinmart + retail system

(BGO) - On March 24, the Department of Industry and Trade of Bac Giang province held a meeting with the Vinmart and Vinmart + retail system under Masan Group to promote the consumption of lychees in 2021.

Japanese GI certificate: "Passport" for Luc Ngan lychee to enter fastidious markets

(BGO) - Luc Ngan lychee is the first product of Vietnam that has been officially granted a geographical indication (GI) certificate in Japan. This event marks an important milestone and is a new opportunity for lychee exports to many different markets. On this occasion, Bac Giang Newspaper interviewed Nguyen Thanh Binh, Director of the provincial Department of Science and Technology, on this event.

Bac Giang: VietGap lychee cultivation area increases

(BGO) – This year, Bac Giang province sees a flowering rate of about 90-95 percent for the early-ripening lychee and 85-90 percent for the main-crop lychee (over 95 percent in Luc Ngan district), 1.5 times higher than those of the lychee season 2020. The area of lychees grown under clean standards has expanded, according to provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Luc Ngan lychee granted GI certificate in Japan

The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has just granted a geographical indication (GI) certificate for lychee grown in Luc Ngan district of Bac Giang province, according to the provincial Department of Science and Technology.

Source: Chinhphu.vn