Consumers will be able to check Vinh oranges with their mobile phones.

(Baonghean.vn) - Before the information about preparing to label Vinh oranges, Nghe An Newspaper reporter interviewed Mr. Nguyen Viet Hung - Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology about the implementation plan and how to identify Vinh oranges.

Reporter: Sir, it is known that Nghe An will soon implement the application of electronic stamps to trace the origin of Vinh oranges. Can you tell us about the importance of this issue?

Mr. Nguyen Viet Hung - Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology of Nghe An province. Photo: PV

Mr. Nguyen Viet Hung:For oranges in Nghe An, building and protecting the Vinh orange brand is extremely necessary as this is a specialty product of Nghe An, favored by markets inside and outside the province. However, Vinh oranges are still mixed with low-quality oranges, especially oranges brought in from other provinces...

PV: So what is the responsibility of the Department of Science and Technology in managing the Vinh orange electronic stamping?

According to the Conclusion Notice No. 229/TB-UBND dated April 27, 2017 of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Duong at the Conference to discuss solutions on exploitation, development and management of geographical indications of Vinh oranges, the Department of Science and Technology was assigned the task of: "Organizing printing, managing and supplying labels on geographical indications of "Vinh" oranges to orange growers in accordance with regulations before October 30, 2017.

Labels using the geographical indication "Vinh" orange must comply with legal regulations and trace the origin of "Vinh" orange products (orange garden address, orange growing household, orange variety, growth process, pest control schedule, etc.).

Currently, the Department of Science and Technology is consulting the Provincial People's Committee to promulgate the Regulation on management and use of geographical indications of "Vinh" oranges for orange products of Nghe An province, including specific regulations on management of code issuance, blanks and origin traceability stamps, use of origin traceability stamps; mandatory information shown on origin traceability stamps and incentive information to introduce and promote Vinh orange specialties, culture, people of Nghe An, scenic spots, tourist attractions, etc.

How to implement the tasks of the Department of Science and Technology: The Department directs the Congress of the "Vinh" Orange Production and Trading Association, promotes the establishment of Orange Branches in Nghia Dan and Quy Hop districts.

In coordination with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the District People's Committee, and the Vinh Orange Production and Business Association, issue Certificates of the right to use the geographical indication "Vinh" to organizations, individuals, and enterprises producing and trading "Vinh" oranges;

Selecting a traceability software solution for oranges bearing the geographical indication “Vinh”; Selecting a number of pilot enterprise and cooperative models to stick the traceability stamp with the geographical indication “Vinh” on orange products.

Quy Hop oranges have been grown according to VietGAP standards. Photo: Tran Chau

PV: So how can consumers recognize Vinh oranges after they have been labeled, sir?

Mr. Nguyen Viet Hung:For orange products bearing the geographical indication "Vinh", it is required that before being put into circulation on the market, a traceability stamp must be affixed on each orange and on the packaging containing the oranges.

Therefore, consumers will be able to recognize it with the naked eye or use a smartphone with a QR code scanning software application installed to read the product's origin traceability information (product origin traceability information is encoded in QR code form).

PV: What is the validity period of the traceability stamp?

Mr. Nguyen Viet Hung:The traceability stamp is issued for each orange variety, each season, each orange production and trading establishment and has a certain expiry date. The expiry date of the traceability stamp is calculated from the start of orange harvest until the expiry date of the orange fruit.

Orange production and trading establishments that have been granted origin tracing stamps, if the stamps have expired, are responsible for publicly announcing on mass media to organizations, individuals and consumers not to use the oranges with the stamps, and are responsible for notifying the recall of orange products and origin tracing stamps and are not allowed to use expired origin tracing stamps.

In case an organization or individual violates the regulations on the use of traceability stamps, the Department of Standards, Metrology and Quality will lock the traceability stamp code.

When ripe, Vinh oranges have a characteristic yellow color. Photo: Cam Ky Yen

PV: How to raise awareness in protecting and preserving the Vinh orange brand in the coming time, sir?

Mr. Nguyen Viet Hung:Vinh orange is the first agricultural product of Nghe An that has successfully established geographical indications and become a national asset protected by the state throughout Vietnam; it is a specialty product of Nghe An province, so all people of Nghe An must be aware of preserving, conserving and promoting its value as a cultural product of the province.

It is necessary to promote information, propaganda, introduction and promotion of the specialty orange "Vinh" on mass media, in many different forms, such as billboards, posters, leaflets, reports, etc., organize the annual Vinh orange festival, organize Vinh orange week events in provinces and cities in the country. In addition, promote trade promotion activities at home and abroad, including abroad.

PV: Thank you./.

Chau Lan

(Perform)