Taiwan (China) reopens door to import Vietnamese dragon fruit

On October 7, 18 tonnes of dragon fruit met Taiwan’s tough import requirements and were allowed passage through customs.

In March 2009, dragon fruit shipments were suspended over concerns of melon fly disease in Vietnam might spread into Taiwan (China) and threaten the country’s guava production.

Among the strict requirements, Taiwan has required that the fruit be sterilized with hot steam before leaving Vietnam. Taiwan also requires that it be quarantined upon arrival in Taiwan, a standard practice across the globe for fruit imports.