China has just issued nearly 1,000 new durian codes
On May 22, Mr. Huynh Tan Dat, Director of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), informed about China approving nearly 1,000 more growing areas, durian packaging facilities and solutions to control heavy metals (O Gold, Cadimi)...
During the approval round on May 21, the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) approved 829 additional growing area codes and 131 packaging facility codes, all of which are new codes. Thus, up to now, Vietnam has 1,396 growing area codes and 188 packaging facilities approved by GACC.
This information is not only of technical significance, but also shows a substantial step forward in the series of efforts to standardize production and improve the capacity to manage agricultural product quality in Vietnam. According to Mr. Huynh Tan Dat, the recent close cooperation between Vietnam and China has shown the growing trust of the import market in Vietnam's capacity to monitor, trace and ensure food safety.
The approval of nearly 1,000 new codes is the result of a series of system changes, from farmers, businesses, to management agencies, Mr. Dat affirmed.
Not only does it mean expanding export scale, the move from GACC is considered a positive signal for the durian crop entering its peak, harvested from July to November. With the increasingly expanding code system, businesses and localities have more tools to regulate harvesting and export plans, avoiding congestion at border gates and reducing price risks.
At the same time, the issuance of open codes creates favorable conditions for implementing signed contracts between people and businesses, limiting buying and selling. "From now on, crop spreading is not only an agricultural technique, but also a market strategy," Mr. Dat emphasized.
However, opportunities also come with challenges. being approved for a code is only an input condition. To stay strong, durian growers must strictly follow the farming process, handle after harvest and package according to what has been committed. That requires the entire system, from corporate cooperatives to each farming household, to raise awareness and voluntarily do the right thing.
2 reasons for Cadimi remaining on durian exceeding threshold
Speaking to the press about information about heavy metal remnants in durian for export, Mr. Huynh Tan Dat said that as soon as there was a warning from the importing country, the Crop and Plant Protection sector immediately sent many inspection teams to key growing areas. Initial results show that the highest risk is concentrated in some localities in the Southwest.
According to preliminary analysis, there are 2 main reasons for Cadimi's surplus on durian exceeding the threshold. First, some areas have the characteristic of soil such as Cadimi at higher than average, accompanied by low soil pH that reduces the ability to absorb healthy nutrients, causing plants to suck on heavy metals. Second, many new growing areas, where people are lacking experience, are abusing chemical fertilizers with doses many times higher than the recommendation, unintentionally increasing the risk of leftover.
Regarding Gold O, an industrial color banned from being used in food, Mr. Dat affirmed that after receiving the warning, the industry's inspection teams reviewed the suspected durian growing areas and did not record the use of this substance in the farming process. Therefore, if there is a catchment, there is a high possibility that it will arise at intermediate stages, outside the management of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection.
To clarify, the unit has proactively sent an official dispatch requesting coordination with other authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation, thereby protecting consumer rights, as well as the reputation of Vietnamese durian in the international market. "If not transparent and handled thoroughly, an incorrect shipment could cost the whole market," said Mr. Dat.
