Taiwan reopens its doors to dragon fruit

On October 7, a consignment of 18 metric ton of the fruit met with Taiwan’s tough import requirements and were allowed passage through customs.

Earlier in March 2009, dragon fruit shipments were suspended over concerns that melon fly disease, which had been detected in Vietnam might spread into Taiwan and threaten the country’s guava production.

Among the many strict requirements, Taiwan has required the fruit be sterilized with hot stream before leaving Vietnam. They also require it be quarantined upon arrival in Taiwan, standard practice throughout the globe for fruit imports.