Cadmium 'evil spirit' of durian will be banned in Vietnam

Cadmium (Cd), a banned substance in durian trees that has devastated the billion-dollar export industry, is expected to be banned in Vietnam along with 30 other active ingredients.

Cadmium (Cd), the "nemesis" of durian, along with 30 other active ingredients, has been added to the list of banned substances in Vietnam. This is a notable point in the draft Circular on the "List of Plant Protection Products Permitted for Use in Vietnam and the List of Plant Protection Products Prohibited for Use in Vietnam," submitted to the Government by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment .

Cadmium, the "nemesis" of the durian export industry, has been included in the draft list of banned substances. Photo: Chi Nhan

According to the draft, the "List of Plant Protection Products Prohibited for Use in Vietnam" includes 23 active ingredients in insecticides and wood preservatives; 6 active ingredients in fungicides; 1 active ingredient in rodenticides; and 1 active ingredient in herbicides.

Notably, among the banned pesticide active ingredients (insecticides, wood preservatives) is Cadmium compound (Cd), also known as cadmium. This is the active ingredient that has severely impacted the multi-billion dollar durian export industry since the end of 2024. This will create favorable conditions for the export of durian, as well as Vietnamese fruits and vegetables in general, in the coming period.

Cadmium, or cadmium compound (Cd), is on the list of substances banned from use in Vietnam. SOURCE: DRAFT

The list of pesticides slated for ban in Vietnam also includes active ingredients such as 2,4,5-T, captan, captafol, methamidophos, aldrin, carbofuran, chlordane, methyl parathion, parathion ethyl, BHC, lindane, etc.

The draft also stipulates a transitional period for plant protection products containing the active ingredient carbosulfan (a type of insecticide), during which they will not be imported, can only be produced for 3 months, and sold and used for 2 years from the date this circular comes into effect.

For plant protection products containing the active ingredient benfuracarb (a type of insecticide), production and import are only permitted for 3 months, and sale and use are permitted for 1 year from the date this circular comes into effect.

From 2017 to 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment reviewed and removed 14 active ingredients with high risks to human health, livestock, and the environment from the list of pesticides permitted for use in Vietnam. These included carbendazim, thiophanate methyl, benomyl, paraquat, 2,4D, acephate, diazinon, malathion, chlorpyrifos ethyl, fipronil, glyphosate, etc.

In the draft, the list of pesticides permitted for use in Vietnam includes 2,222 active ingredients with 5,681 trade names. Compared to the current regulations, the draft adds 12 more active ingredients with 431 trade names.

Specifically, pesticides include 895 active ingredients with 2,194 trade names; fungicides include 840 active ingredients with 1,957 product names; herbicides include 312 active ingredients with 994 trade names; rodenticides include 9 active ingredients with 73 trade names; plant growth regulators include 67 active ingredients with 206 trade names; insect attractants include 8 active ingredients with 8 trade names; molluscicides include 31 active ingredients with 161 product names...

According to Chi Nhan (TNO)

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/cadimi-hung-than-cua-sau-rieng-se-bi-cam-o-viet-nam-post570540.html