Viet Nam's first irradiation plant approved by the US

Latest information from the Plant Production and Protection Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) reveals that the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has officially approved the X-ray irradiation facility of Toan Phat Irradiation Co., Ltd. as qualified to perform irradiation treatments on fresh fruits exported to the US.

With this outcome, Toan Phat becomes the first irradiation facility in Vietnam recognized by APHIS to treat fresh export fruits to the US using both technologies: gamma irradiation using a Cobalt-60 source and X-ray technology. The addition of this new technology helps the enterprise enhance its operational orchestration capacities, especially during seasonal peak harvest periods.

To secure APHIS approval, the enterprise successfully completed a rigorous evaluation process covering equipment, operational workflows, dose mapping and control, consignment identification and safeguarding, alongside related requirements of the pre-clearance quarantine program.

According to a corporate representative, in 2025, Toan Phat treated nearly 5.670 tons of fresh fruit exported to the US using gamma irradiation technology via a Cobalt-60 source. With the integration of X-ray technology into operations, the plant's treatment capacity is projected to nearly double, creating additional capacity to receive commodities in a context where fruit exports to the US continue to grow.

To ensure full compliance with the plant quarantine regulations of both Vietnam and the US, the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection requires the enterprise to strictly implement fresh fruit irradiation treatments for the US market in accordance with the Irradiation Operational Plan and any related modified or supplemented annexes signed by APHIS and the Department.

Concurrently, the enterprise must fully comply with workflows for packaging, preservation, transport, document management, treatment data updates, traceability, and measures to prevent re-infestation, in strict alignment with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) approved by APHIS.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in the first 6 months of 2026, total agricultural, forestry, and fishery export turnover reached an estimated 35.88 billion USD. Within this, the fruit and vegetable sector continued its outstanding growth, hitting 3.65 billion USD, a 17.7% surge compared to the same period last year. The US remains one of the two largest consumer markets for Vietnamese fruits and vegetables, growing 12.2% year-on-year.

Currently, for fresh fruits exported to the US - such as pomelo, mango, dragon fruit, longan, lychee, rambutan, and star apple - production yields are primarily concentrated in the Southern region. Meanwhile, a mandatory plant quarantine requirement dictates that these products must undergo irradiation treatment. However, because yields are often concentrated within narrow timeframes, particularly during seasonal peaks, immense pressure is placed on the entire export chain, spanning from growing zones, packing houses, cold storage facilities, and transportation to quarantine and irradiation treatment phases.

The reinforcement of treatment capacity through X-ray technology is expected to help alleviate pressure during peak periods, mitigate the risks of commodity congestion, warehouse storage fees, and delivery timeline disruptions for enterprises.