en.Wedoany.com Reported - Starting July 1, Vietnam officially approved the entry of Italian kiwifruit into its market, opening new commercial opportunities for the Italian kiwifruit industry in Southeast Asia. This decision concludes market access negotiations initiated several years ago.
The announcement was made by the Italian Fruit and Vegetable Service Center (CSO Italy), which has assisted in related matters since the start of negotiations and described this opening as a strategic advancement for Italian fruit cultivation. CSO Italy stated that the Vietnamese market holds significant potential for Italian fruit, particularly kiwifruit, due to growing demand for high-quality products in Vietnam and the established global reputation of Italian products.
The application for market access was submitted several years ago, with Vietnamese authorities beginning to evaluate the dossier in 2020, following the completion of protocol analysis for Italian apples. A key milestone in the negotiation process was the visit of a Vietnamese phytosanitary inspection delegation to Italy in December 2025. Coordinated by CSO Italy, the delegation inspected kiwifruit orchards, packaging plants, and processing facilities to verify compliance with phytosanitary requirements. The delegation also assessed traceability systems, control procedures, and the implementation of cold treatment, as well as the technical and organizational level of the Italian supply chain.
CSO Italy explained that the approved protocol requires Italian exporters to meet several requirements during production and packaging. Key provisions include phytosanitary monitoring in orchards, obtaining corresponding import permits, and mandatory cold treatment. This cold treatment can be carried out before shipment or during sea transport, with temperatures maintained at 1.11°C for at least 15 days. CSO Italy stated that a list of orchards and packaging plants authorized to participate in the first export program for the 2026/27 sales season is being finalized.
Simona Rubbi, Head of Regulations and Certification at CSO Italy, noted that the opening of the Vietnamese market has been a long-awaited goal for the Italian industry. She stated that this achievement results from collaboration among exporting companies, CSO Italy, the National Phytosanitary Service, Regional Phytosanitary Services, the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry (MASAF), and the Italian Embassy in Hanoi. Rubbi also warned that the current challenge lies in maintaining market access through strict compliance with the protocol, as any interception of a single shipment could undermine years of work and jeopardize market access.
