People are buying Thai durians at an international logistics center for agricultural products in Nanning, China, on May 20, 2024. Photo by AFP
Chinese customs have ordered strict checks of lab test results for Basic Yellow 2, a carcinogen, on fruits, causing problems for Thai durian exports to the country.
Checkpoints across China have been told to reject Thai durian shipments lacking the required lab results, a source from Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives told newspaper Thansettakij last Saturday.
Some shipments to the Nanning Wuxu International Airport have been rejected, the source said.
Basic Yellow 2, a yellowish organic compound commonly used in fabrics, paper, leather, and house paint, is classified as a Group 2B carcinogen by the World Health Organization, The Nation reported.
The 2B classification is for substances, organisms and agents that are possibly carcinogenic to humans, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
China customs previously raised concern about cadmium contamination in durian shipments from Thailand last October, leading to a suspension of exports from a number of packing houses and orchards.
Investigations conducted by the Thai agriculture ministry at the time found that test results were within China’s safety limits, and sources said the contaminated fruits likely came from another country.
China imported 1.53 million tons of durian worth US$6.83 billion in the first 11 months of 2024, a 9.4% year-on-year increase in volume and up 3.9% in value, according to customs data cited by Vietnam Agriculture News.
Of these, Thailand accounted for 52%, down from 65% in 2023, while Vietnam’s share grew from 35% to 47% during the same period.
