Australia has commenced work on market access for fresh dragon fruit from Vietnam, the Australian Embassy said in a statement on Wednesday.
Australia has already undertaken preliminary work on the assessment, including reviewing pests and diseases.
Further work on risk assessment will be carried out over the next few months, including a field visit to production areas and an evaluation of production and export practices.
A draft report is expected to be released for public feedback later this year.
Australia is also considering other Vietnamese fruits.
Lychee was the first Vietnamese fruit shipped to Australia, starting May last year. Lychee exports reached 28 tons at the end of 2015.
Mango has been accessed since November and the first shipment is expected soon.
In 2014, Vietnam became the first country to export dragon fruit to New Zealand, after the two countries agreed on procedures to ensure safety requirements.
Vietnam has more than 36,000 hectares of dragon fruit, mostly in the central province of Binh Thuan and the southern provinces of Long An and Tien Giang with a total annual productivity of more than 615,000 tons, according to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association.
The bright pink fruit is believed to be very nutritious, low in calories and high in fiber.
Source: ThanhnienNews
keyowrds: Vietnam, to export, dragon fruit, to Australia
