Eryngium foetidum is among the five plants that are temporarily ban for export to the EU. — File Photo

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — The Plant Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has suspended the granting of phytosanitary certificates for five plant exports to the European Union (EU).

The move to suspend certificates for basil, along with chilli, celery, bitter melon and eryngium foetidum, came after the Euro­pean Commission (EC) warned it would ban the import of all fruits and vegetables from Viet Nam.

Dang Van Hoang, Head of Zone 2 Plant Quarantine Sub-Department, told Biz Hub the decision would take effect from now until February 1, 2015.

"The temporary ban is necessary. If these products do not comply with the EU's regulation on plant health, all domestic export enterprises, as well as Viet Nam's international reputation as a fruit and vegetable exporter, will be seriously affected," said Hoang.

He added that the decision would give the department and enterprises time to re-examine the production process and ensure that the plants satisfy EU standards.

Last Monday, the EU Directorate-General for Health and Consumers (DG-SANCO) said it would impose a ban on fruits and vegetables from Viet Nam if it would receive five notifications of interceptions of fruits and vegetables from Viet Nam due to insect contamination between February 1, 2014 and February 1, 2015.

Since the beginning of this year, EU member countries have sent three notifications to DG-SANCO regarding the presence of harmful organisms in basil and bitter melon from Viet Nam. — VNS