Some fresh durian and jackfruit exports from Vietnam have failed to comply with its phytosanitary and food safety regulations, China has warned.
Vietnam’s Plant Protection Department announced recently that it had been notified by China’s General Administration of Customs about the non-compliance.
It poses a risk to Vietnamese agricultural products’ reputation and brand name in international markets, the department warned.
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Durian are seen in Tien Giang Province, southern Vietnam. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Nam |
It exhorted local authorities and relevant agencies to strengthen inspection and oversight of farming areas and export packaging facilities.
The department also urged farmers and packaging facilities to strictly adhere to pesticide residue, heavy metal and traceability requirements.
The E.U. has increased inspections of Vietnamese durian from 10% to 20% of all imports starting on Jan. 8. This follows the discovery of pesticide residues in the fruit exceeding E.U. standards.
Also last month the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association issued an urgent notice against fake cultivation area and packing facility codes for durian export.
Fraudsters had used fake authorization contracts, seals and signatures to deceive buyers and bypass authorities, enabling unauthorized exports to China.
Last year China returned several batches of Vietnamese durian contaminated with cadmium, a heavy metal which can harm human kidneys and lungs.
Vietnamese durian prices fell for a while soon afterward. In 2024, Vietnam’s durian export revenue reached $3.3 billion, marking an increase of over $1 billion compared to the previous year.
Durian accounted for nearly 50% of the country’s total fruit and vegetable exports. 90% of shipment went to China.
