Banana is an agricultural product with quite large output and high export potential. So when exporting fresh bananas to foreign markets, what documents are included? In fact, bananas are a favorable product that many enterprises and businesses are interested in. Let’s learn about paperwork with Viet Linh before exporting this item to the international market.
Discover the current banana export market
Vietnamese bananas have been welcomed by international consumers, including the most demanding markets. Because they have a delicious taste and many nutrients that are good for health. According to BSAi estimates, banana export value in 2023 will reach more than 260 million USD, a significant increase over the same period in 2023.
Not only bananas but banana leaves are also a popular export item in many countries. Vietnamese banana leaves are present in markets such as the US, Australia, Switzerland and Japan. The export price of banana leaves is relatively not low. By seizing opportunities and making good use of every market share, banana trees can bring in billions of dollars annually.
So what are the necessary and sufficient conditions that exporters of this product need to meet? Let’s find out in the next part of the article.
Necessary conditions when exporting bananas to the international market
In order for bananas to be exported to international markets, exporters need to meet the following conditions:
- Banana growing areas and packing facilities for export to international markets need to be registered with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and approved by the General Department of Customs of the importing country.
- Growing areas should have quality management systems and trace product origins.
- The entire planting and care process should follow GAP standards
- After being harvested, bananas have to meet the plant quarantine criteria of the importing country.
- Exported bananas are green, unripe bananas and are harvested within 10-16 weeks after flowering.
- Besides, exported bananas must meet other standards and requirements of the importing country. For example, human health standards and national food safety standards of the importing country.
Detailed instructions on banana export procedures
Banana gardens that meet the above standards need to go through some customs paperwork before being exported to the international market.
Legal policy for exported bananas
Based on Appendix II of Decree No. 69/2018/ND-CP dated May 15, 2018 of the government, fresh bananas are not on the list of items banned from export. Therefore, businesses and units can export fresh bananas to foreign markets normally.
Pursuant to Circular No. 15/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated October 29, 2018, for exported bananas, the unit needs to conduct plant quarantine.
HS Code and tax schedule for banana products
Fresh bananas for export will have HS Code under group 0803 – Bananas, including banana leaves, fresh or dried. And depending on each type of banana, there will be different HS Codes, specifically:
- For fresh bananas: HS Code is 08039090
- For bananas: HS Code is 08039010
- For banana leaves: HS Code is 08031000
The fresh banana export tax schedule according to current regulations is specifically as follows:
- Export tax (export): 0%
- Value Added Tax (VAT): 0%
Based on the above tax table, it can be seen that businesses exporting this item will not need to pay tax.
Customs procedures for exporting bananas
The banana export customs dossier includes the following documents and papers:
- Sales contract
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list of goods (Packing list)
- Customs declaration
- Bill Of Lading (Bill of Lading)
- Phytosanitary Certificate
- Other documents (if any)
Procedures for registering plant quarantine certificate for green bananas for export
Before learning about the procedures for exporting bananas abroad, let’s review with Viet Linh the registration and plant quarantine process for this item as follows:
Step 1: Prepare plant quarantine registration documents
Customers wishing to export banana fruits to China should submit quarantine registration documents to the competent authority. Or customers can make declarations online or directly at the Plant Quarantine agency.
Step 2: Take quarantine samples
The Plant Quarantine Agency will have the authority to take banana samples to bring back to the quarantine room.
Step 3: Proceed to declare information
Enterprises that need to transport bananas will declare specific information about the batch of bananas to be exported to the system with the main purpose is to deed.
Step 4: Proceed to add documents
The Plant Quarantine Agency will conduct an inspection and request additional missing documents. Finally, the quarantine agency will confirm and provide a quarantine certificate for the bananas to be sent to the import market
Depending on each import market, businesses need to prepare different documents for customs clearance. Therefore, before exporting, you need to clearly understand what the market needs and what it requires to complete the paperwork properly.
Some important notes when exporting fresh bananas
Normally when exporting fresh bananas, businesses need to pay attention to the following standards such as:
- Bananas need to be packaged in cool containers of 40Rf at a temperature of 13 degrees Celsius and ventilation conditions reaching 25CBM.
- The banana must be intact, not bruised, broken, or rotten. Besides, the fruit is not sunburned, sooty, dark or covered with resin. The fruit must reach harvest maturity (75 – 85% maturity).
- The length of exported bananas must not be less than 13cm.
- The peel and stem of the fruit must be green, dry, and clean.
- Bananas must be cut into bunches close to the stem, completely removing the stem. Banana bunches must be dry. Banana bunches with rotten stems or stems left behind will not meet the standards.
- Exported bananas must comply with the inspection requirements of the exporting country and be free of pests and diseases according to the contract.
Above is all the information about banana export procedures that businesses/banana exporters need to firmly grasp. If readers still have questions about issues related to export procedures for agricultural products. Please contact Viet Linh at hotline: 0345.128.188 for the best support00
