Tobamovirus not detected on Vietnamese tomatoes and bell peppers

Vietnam has not detected Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (Tobamovirus) on its tomatoes and bell peppers, according to the Plant Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Head of Plant Quarantine Division under the department Le Sơn Ha said that late last month, Taiwan announced its plan on adding Tobamovirus into its list of dangerous insect pests. Taiwan planned to require plant/plant product exporters to show a certificate that proves the exported products are tested negative to the Tobamovirus.

After being informed about the requirement, Vietnam authorities reviewed and found no Tobamovirus on Vietnamese tomatoes and bell peppers, Ha said.

The official said that according to the international norm, if Vietnam did not report the virus, a Vietnamese functional agency would inform Taiwan’s counterpart and it would be not necessary to grant the certificate relating to Tobamovirus.

If the virus was reported in the natural environment in both Vietnam and Taiwan, the testing and certificating would not be necessary either, Ha said.

The certificate grant was needed only when Vietnam reported the virus while Taiwan did not report it, Ha said, confirming that in that case, Vietnam had sufficient capacity to analyse and test the virus.

Ha said that the Plant Protection Department would soon report and consult the agriculture ministry so that relevant agencies would work with Taiwanese agencies over the issue within 60 days.

Previously, on January 28, Vietnam’s Culture and Economy Office in Taipei received Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture’s notice on its changes in plant quarantine for plant products imported to Taiwan.

According to the notice, tomato and bell pepper exporters must submit a certificate proving that their products are free of Tobamovirus.

Without the certificate, the products would be sent back or ruined.

Exporters and exporting countries have 60 days to send opinions and discussion to Taiwan’s quarantine agency.