Removing "difficulties" in exporting durian

When carrying out import and export procedures, the Chinese side will continue to take samples and test 100% of the shipment. Only if there is no yellow O residue will customs clearance be granted. Many businesses are in dire straits and have to turn back to bring goods back for domestic consumption.

How to ensure durian is not contaminated with banned substances and meets export standards is the question of durian growers across the country in general and in the durian "capital" Bau Don (Go Dau) in particular.

Food safety for durian - "Passport" for customs clearance

Recently, Bau Don Durian Club (Go Dau district) organized a meeting for members with the topic: "Food safety for durian products".

At the meeting, club members and farmers listened to experts, authorities, and scientists share information related to the process of caring for durian trees for optimal fruit development; food safety on durian trees; and technology for ripening durian using Ethylene gas machines.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Xuan - Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment spoke at the program.

Currently, information about durian being contaminated with banned substances such as Cadmium and Yellow O has caused concern for many farmers. Most durian growers have asked the authorities about how to identify durian contaminated with banned substances, how to handle it, and the support policies of the authorities in taking samples for testing.

According to Mr. Phan Hoai Thinh - Director of Bau Don Fruit Tree Cooperative, in the 2024-2025 durian crop year, in Bau Don commune, there are more than 900 hectares of fruit bearing fruit with an average yield of 15-20 tons/ha. The durian area of Hoi Quan alone is 45 hectares, with an average yield of 20 tons/ha.

In the district, there are 5 codes for durian growing areas exported to China, with a total area of 154.7 hectares, all of which are growing areas in Bau Don commune. Of which, Hoi Quan has 2 growing areas that have been granted codes and have exported products to the Chinese market in recent years.

In addition, the durian products of the Association are 4-star OCOP products, with VietGAP certification, growing area codes, collective trademarks, and traceability. The Association regularly updates market information and daily durian product prices during the harvest season to members; participates in trade promotion campaigns to connect with businesses, creating stability in production and consumption.

In the 2023-2024 crop year, the club has 2 growing areas with codes and has products exported to the Chinese market through chain linkage with 2 enterprises; fruit processing factory for export - Branch of Trinity Vietnam Co., Ltd. and Chanh Thu Fruit Import-Export Co., Ltd. In addition, the club's durian products are also consumed in the domestic market.

Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Dinh Xuan said that with more than 20 years of development, Bau Don durian farmers need to try to maintain their brand, comply with technical measures, especially those who are new to growing need to strictly follow the growing process and standards. When exporting durian, it is necessary to ensure the origin of each fruit, so that when a problem is detected, it will be known where the fruit comes from, because each export container comes from many gardens, which is also the reason why a growing area code must be issued.

According to Mr. Xuan, each durian growing household must agree to let the authorities inspect and take samples for testing. Currently, many gardeners still do not allow samples to be taken, making it difficult to manage the traceability of durian origins if there are problems with customs clearance. If samples are not taken, the authorities will revoke the growing area code and use sanctions to avoid affecting other farmers.

“The export market is extremely important but also full of risks, so the domestic market is still the foundation for sustainable development. Therefore, growers need to comply with food safety measures for durian, to meet the conditions and standards for supplying to domestic and foreign markets,” the Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment emphasized.

In the coming time, the authorities will establish inspection teams, conduct sampling on durian, strictly manage the growing area code and the status of pesticide residues, yellow substance O. In addition, promote propaganda to help people raise awareness, comply with production processes to ensure product quality. At the same time, there will be sanctions to strictly handle violations.

Developing durian in a safe and sustainable direction

Durian trees have a relatively high economic value compared to other crops, bringing significant income to local farmers. However, durian development is also facing many challenges, requiring appropriate solutions to enhance the value chain, as well as ensure stable output.

According to Dr. Bui Thanh Liem - Linaco Agricultural Technical Service Center (Ben Tre), towards sustainable durian production, farmers need to boldly change their thinking, farming methods, build brands, expand consumption markets, focus on building growing area codes to serve official exports, and increase the value of this fruit. Along with that, innovate and develop forms of production organization, taking cooperatives and cooperative groups as the core to organize production, linking with businesses along the value chain.

Dr. Bui Thanh Liem guides durian growing techniques for farmers in Bau Don commune.

Dr. Bui Thanh Liem also instructed durian farmers in Bau Don on how to handle durian flowering, fruit setting, and fruit drop; oriented the development of durian towards sustainability, recommended that people use pesticides ensuring the 4 right principles (right drug, right time, right dosage - concentration and right way) and only harvest durian when ensuring ripeness, control pesticide residues and some heavy metals...

Director of Bau Don Fruit Cooperative Phan Hoai Thinh said that in the 2024-2025 crop year, Bau Don Durian Club will continue to implement linkage chains with export fruit processing factories - Branch of Trinity Vietnam Co., Ltd. and Chanh Thu Import-Export Co., Ltd.; expand to other businesses to create output for the club's durian products.

To help farmers feel secure in production, a representative of Chanh Thu Import-Export Company Limited (durian purchasing unit) shared about the situation of durian purchasing and exporting, guided farmers on how to effectively link growing areas, and committed that the enterprise will always accompany farmers to remove technical barriers, find solutions to overcome and eliminate hazards in durian production, create sustainable regional linkages, and contribute to the economic development of the locality and the whole country.

Yellow O (Auramine O) chemical name is Diarylmethane. This is a substance used to create color in industry, banned from use in animal husbandry, not used to produce, process agricultural products, food additives. Yellow O is toxic to living organisms in general and is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a group 3 carcinogen, meaning it has a high potential to cause cancer. This substance ranks 5th out of 116 leading carcinogens in the world.

Cadmium is a naturally occurring substance but is considered to be unnecessary for life, even harmful to human health. Currently, the main sources of Cadmium pollution come from industrial and agricultural processes, food and drinking water. Cadmium in soil and water can accumulate in plants, aquatic organisms and then enter the food chain. Impurities in galvanized pipes, water pipes, water heaters and faucets sometimes cause an increase in cadmium content...

Hoang Yen

Source: https://baotayninh.vn/go-kho-xuat-khau-sau-rieng-a188470.html