In recent years, pineapple has been a widely exported agricultural product to the European market. Vietnamese pineapple products are highly appreciated for their taste and quality compared to other countries in the Southeast Asia region. However, exporting pineapples faces many difficulties and challenges for businesses because of numerous different standards that have to go through. Specifically, what are those standards? Let’s find out in the article below.
1. Discovering the pineapple export market to Europe
Pineapple is considered one of the most important agricultural products in Vietnam’s export strategy. Vietnamese pineapple is present in various major international markets such as the United States, Japan, Netherlands, Germany, England…
According to estimates, the European market has a consumption value of roughly 1.5 billion USD per year. Since 2007, Vietnam’s pineapple export turnover to Europe has reached about 10 million USD annually. Although this number is increasing, it only accounts for a very small part of this potential market.
Conquering the EU market will potentially enable pineapple products to reach many other countries and regions around the world.
Applying effective trade promotion policies and strict quality management is the key to expanding the market in the EU. With these efforts, Vietnamese branded pineapples have the potential to grow stronger in the European market in the future.
2. Classification of pineapples on the Vietnamese market
With strict requirements on the appearance and quality of pineapple, there are several mandatory standards for exporting pineapples to the European market such as:
In terms of appearance:
- Pineapples need to maintain their shape, be fresh, clean, develop naturally, have top buds and part of the stem. There are no cracks, even small cracks that have healed.
- The fruit skin must be undamaged, have no new bruises, and show no signs of sunburn or insect damage.
Shape of bud tip:
- The length of the shoot tip is not greater than 150% of the height of the fruit body.
- Natural and beautiful shape, slightly curved top buds are acceptable in grades I and II, but must ensure that the cut of the remaining bud on the fruit is dry, healthy, clean and has no signs of damage.
Fruit stem
- The length of the stem is not greater than 2cm, the cross-section is perpendicular to the fruit stem, clean, dry and disinfected with a fungicide.
- Defects on the fruit skin (Slight scratches and abrasions have healed):
In terms of ranking
- Goods that are classified as outstanding types do not accept any scratches, except for some very small ones.
- For Class I, scratches are allowed, but their total area must not exceed 4% of the entire shell area.
- For Class II, scratches are acceptable, but they must not affect the quality of the internal flesh and must not cause impact during storage and transportation.
Ripeness:
Fresh exported pineapples are classified into 3 degrees of ripeness based on the color of the fruit skin as follows:
- Ripeness level 1: The pineapple has completely opened its eyes, with 1 to 2 rows of eyes starting to appear near the stem of the fruit.
- Ripeness level 2: Yellow color on the skin covering 1/3 of the fruit’s height or less.
- Ripeness level 3: Yellow color on the fruit skin accounts for 1/3 to 2/3 of the fruit height.
Fruit flesh:
- The fruit flesh must be firm, not greasy, not soft, not dry and spongy.
- The cross-section of the fruit should not have brown or dark spots.
- The color of the fruit’s flesh ranges from ivory white to yellow, depending on ripeness.
- The taste of the fruit flesh must be mildly aromatic to the characteristic of ripe pineapple, sweet and sour to sweet, with no strange flavors.
3. 5 standards for pineapple export to the European market
3.1. Pineapple export standards for quality
During the process of importing pineapples into the EU, products are classified into three types: outstanding type, type I and type II. The European market mainly imports grade I or outstanding grade pineapples. This type has standard sizes ranging from 800 grams to 2750 grams.
During the process of harvesting pineapples for export, priority is given to selecting fruits that show signs of ripening from green to yellow, with a ripeness level of about 75-80% at a ratio of 1/4 fruit.
The pineapple stem needs to be cut short to a length of 1-2 cm, to avoid collision during transportation while removing damaged fruits. At the same time, use a brush or specialized tool with a very small ratio of FC101 to remove insects on the surface of the pineapple’s shell.
Hygiene criteria for exported fresh pineapples according to Decision 867/1998/QD-BYT dated April 4, 1998 of the Minister of Health promulgating the “List of hygiene standards for food and foodstuffs” with mandatory requirements to meet the following criteria:
- Ensure the absence of microorganisms in quantities that may pose a risk to the health of the consumer.
- No pests or diseases exist, complying with the provisions of the commercial contract (if any) or according to assessments from the importing country’s plant quarantine authorities.
- Exclude any substances of microbial origin that may be hazardous to the health of the consumer.
3.2. Packaging standards
Regarding pineapple packaging, certain conditions also have to be met. For example, cartons are always dry, clean, mold-free and have no strange odors that affect product quality. Carton boxes need to have good bearing capacity to ensure that when stacked, they do not affect the product.
The barrel body needs to be perforated for good ventilation. Pineapples are arranged horizontally in two rows in the box with the fruit stem facing outside the box and the top bud facing inside. Each bud is arranged between two fruit stems of the opposite row of pineapples. Packaged in quantities of 6 or 8 fruits in a carton, which can be adjusted according to agreement in the commercial contract. The packaging process needs to ensure uniformity in fruit ripeness, weight and size.
3.3. Pineapple export standards for preservation
Warehouses storing fresh pineapple for export need to be dry, clean, airy, and free of strange odors that can affect the quality of the fruit. The warehouse must not contain toxic chemicals or goods with strange flavors mixed with imported fresh pineapple.
If the transportation distance to the consumption location is too far, the pineapple should be harvested as soon as possible, and the pineapple will be imported into a cool warehouse with an artificial cooling system. Pineapple storage time at the warehouse must not exceed 48 hours from the time of harvest until the goods are shipped to the port.
The optimal storage temperature of fresh pineapple depends on the type of pineapple, ripeness, sanitary conditions, and time of transportation to the point of consumption, but should not be lower than +8°C.
Pineapple parcels must be arranged at least 0.6 m from the wall, placed on wooden platforms at least 0.3 m from the floor and ensure ventilation for each parcel. Pineapple bales are stacked on top of each other with a height of about 5 to 8 bales, depending on the quality of the carton packaging and the net weight of each fresh pineapple bale.
3.4. Pineapple export standards on labeling
Before being packed into cartons, exported coconuts need to be labeled. Labeling of goods must comply with the regulations on labeling of domestically circulated goods and exported and imported goods according to the provisions of Decision No. 178/1999/QD-TTg dated August 30, 1999 of the Prime Minister. government. For different quality grades, labels must be specially designed.
Cartons need to have codes clearly printed on the outer surface of the packaging, using indelible ink, and must comply with the contents specified in the Regulations on labeling of goods circulated domestically and for exported goods. imported under Decision No. 178/1999/QD-TTg dated August 30, 1999 of the Prime Minister. For information on quality criteria, quality class and fruit size must be clearly noted.
Each package must have a packing slip with information such as:
- Name of packing unit or/and name of packer
- Net weight
- Packaging date.
3.5. Pineapple export standards for transportation
Goods that are exported or imported will be subject to different tax policies and regulations.
The HS code for pineapple when exported is 08043000. Businesses can check the HS code of agricultural products to be exported on the website of Vietnam Customs. Customers need to research and prepare all necessary documents to bring Vietnamese products to the international market.
4. Summary
Through this article, it can be seen that exporting pineapples to Europe requires attention to pineapple export standards. Compliance with these standards not only creates products with high commercial value, but it also helps build reputation for Vietnamese pineapple products in the international market.
Customers are in need of importing and exporting agricultural products to the international market, please contact us at hotline 0345.128.188 for 24/7 support.
VIETLINHAGRIMEX CO., LTD
- Head office: LK07-C14 Ministry of Defense, Bui Xuong Trach street, Hoang Mai district, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Phone : 0345.128.188
- Email: sales@vietlinhagrimex.vn
- Website: https://vietlinhagrimex.vn/
