Controlling plant protection drug residues and applying IPHM help Bac Ninh lychee fruits maintain trust in the Japanese market.

Changing awareness and production methods of the people

Japan is evaluated as one of the top markets with strict requirements for imported agricultural products. For fresh lychees, in addition to stringent regulations on plant quarantine, this market also applies a maximum residue limit (MRL) system for each specific active ingredient.

Just one active ingredient exceeding the allowable threshold or a shipment failing to properly meet the importing country's regulations can result in the product being warned or even denied entry. Therefore, with a fastidious market like Japan, each exported batch of lychee is not only the result of a production season but also a measure of the capacity to manage growing areas, control product quality, and organize the linkage chain.

From that requirement, the agricultural and environmental sector of Bac Ninh province determined that controlling plant protection drug residues cannot be performed solely during the pre-harvest phase. This work must be managed throughout the entire production process, from care, prevention of harmful organisms, and use of plant protection drugs to harvesting, preliminary processing, and packaging. Product quality is placed at the center, serving as the deciding condition to maintain the export market stably.

One of the vital solutions being deployed is the integrated plant health management (IPHM) program. Previously, many lychee-growing households relied primarily on plant protection drugs to prevent pests and diseases, especially the lychee fruit borer. Using drugs based on habit over a long period easily led to pest resistance, while posing risks of plant protection drug residues on lychee fruits.

Since applying IPHM, the awareness and production methods of the people have undergone visible changes. Lychee growers have gradually shifted from the mindset of pest prevention using plant protection drugs to managing the growing area ecosystem. Farmers regularly visit orchards, monitor the density of harmful organisms, protect natural enemies, enhance cultivation measures, prioritize the use of biological plant protection drugs, and only use chemical drugs when absolutely necessary.

The application of IPHM is step-by-step being replicated across exported lychee-growing areas of Bac Ninh province. This is regarded as an important condition helping to well control harmful organisms, reduce plant protection drug residues, ensure food safety, and meet plant quarantine requirements in accordance with regulations and international agreements implemented by Vietnam and Japan in fresh fruit export activities.

In Na Hem hamlet, Son Hai commune—a lychee area granted a growing area code for export to Japan since 2020—compliance with safe production processes has become a habit for households. Requirements such as using drugs within the permitted list, complying with quarantine periods, and recording production logs for traceability are no longer formalistic actions but have become mandatory conditions to maintain the growing area's reputation.

Mr. Luc Van Tang, Head of the lychee production zone code in Na Hem hamlet, stated: “People in the growing area understand that for lychees to be exported to Japan, the most crucial thing is to ensure quality and food safety. Farmers always comply with the guidance of technical officials, use plant protection drugs within the list recommended by specialized agencies, adhere to the '4 rights' principle, guarantee quarantine periods, and fully record production logs to serve traceability.”

According to Mr. Tang, participating in the lychee area exported to Japan not only brings economic value but also helps farmers change their production mindset, creating high-quality, safe products. When products target a market with stringent standards, people are forced to produce more systematically, better control each stage, and be more responsible for their products.

IPHM not only helps producers proactively manage harmful organisms, reduce reliance on chemical plant protection drugs, enhance plant health, and protect the ecological environment, but it is also a vital solution to create safe products. This serves precisely as the foundation for lychees to meet the strict food safety and plant quarantine requirements of the importing market.

Along with the shift from the producers' side, the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection of Bac Ninh province has proactively allocated funding for collecting lychee fruit samples to analyze plant protection drug residues in exported growing areas, especially those serving the Japanese market.

The investigation and monitoring of harmful organisms subject to plant quarantine are also conducted regularly to ensure that shipments do not violate the importing country's regulations.

Maintaining the trust of import partners

Mr. Vu Tri Dong, Deputy Director of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection of Bac Ninh province, stated: “The Department has focused on guiding people to expand production areas according to VietGAP standards, step-by-step developing cultivation models in organic directions, accelerating the application of the IPHM program, and enhancing the use of biological plant protection drugs to reduce the risk of active ingredient residues on lychee fruits.”

According to Mr. Dong, strictly controlling plant protection drug residues and harmful organisms is a mandatory requirement if one wishes to maintain fastidious markets stably. This work is not only related to a specific batch of goods but also directly affects the reputation of the growing area, exporting enterprises, and the Bac Ninh lychee brand in the international market.

Mr. Dong emphasized: “Strictly controlling plant protection drug residues and harmful organisms not only helps lychees meet the technical requirements of the Japanese market but also contributes to maintaining the trust of import partners, avoiding the risk of shipments being warned or returned, thereby mitigating economic losses for enterprises and producers.”

Currently, Bac Ninh province manages 40 growing area codes for lychees exported to the Japanese market. To achieve successfully exported fresh lychee batches, in addition to guiding growing areas to comply with the strict standards of the Japanese market, specialized agencies have deployed multiple synchronous solutions, taking product quality enhancement as the core.

Export results show that these solutions are proving effective. To date, exported lychee batches to various markets have reached over 20 thousand tons, in which the Japanese market accounts for around 200 tons. The lychee batches are exported by enterprises that possess experience and always accompany growing areas from the beginning of the production season, such as Toan Cau Food Import Export Joint Stock Company, Amei Vietnam Joint Stock Company, Rong Do Company Limited, Mova Plus Company, Dragon Berry…

The participation of enterprises plays an important role in connecting market requirements with production reality. When enterprises accompany from the beginning of the season, people gain early access to technical requirements, thereby adjusting care processes, the use of plant protection drugs, harvesting, and perfecting traceability dossiers. This helps reduce risks at the final stage, while increasing the capacity to meet export orders stably.

In the context of technical barriers for agricultural products being increasingly tightened, maintaining standard-compliant growing areas, well controlling plant protection drug residues, effectively executing IPHM, and guaranteeing plant quarantine regulations will be the key for Bac Ninh lychees to continue maintaining their foothold in the Japanese market.

From the shift in the production mindset of the people, the companionship of specialized agencies, and the application of advanced production processes, Bac Ninh lychees are step-by-step asserting their position in fastidious markets. Each exported lychee is a testament to the transition toward a green, safe, and sustainable production.

Source: Bao Nong nghiep va Moi truong