The United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has officially granted approval to the Toan Phat Irradiation Plant (TPI) to operate dual technologies. Located in the Phu An Thanh Industrial Zone, Tay Ninh province, the facility is now authorized to use both Gamma and X-ray irradiation systems for fresh fruit quarantine procedures before entering the United States market.
This approval marks a strategic step for Vietnam's agricultural sector. With the ability to run both technologies simultaneously, TPI becomes the first facility in Vietnam capable of offering higher operational flexibility. This system allows exporters to proactively manage processing capacity, especially when facing demand surges during peak harvest seasons.
Secretary-General of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, Dang Phuc Nguyen, explained that irradiation is a mandatory requirement for commodities such as mangoes, dragon fruit, pomelos, and lychees before entering the US. The combination of Gamma and X-ray technology minimizes the risk of backlogs and ensures delivery schedules are maintained, even if one of the systems requires routine maintenance.
Director General of Toan Phat Irradiation Co., Ltd., Vuong Hieu, emphasized that the addition of X-ray technology underwent strict auditing by US authorities, covering equipment evaluations, safety procedures, and dose control systems. With this integration, the plant's processing capacity is expected to double compared to 2025, which recorded a volume of 5,670 tons of fruit.
This step comes amidst a positive trend in Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports, which reached USD 8.5 billion in 2025. Given that Vietnam's market share in the United States has only reached 1.49%, strengthening post-harvest infrastructure and quarantine technology is a vital key for industry players to capture a larger share of the international market.
