Hai Phong: Fruits with imported stamps are sold everywhere.

In Hai Phong, many people expressed concern about the quality and origin of imported fruits that are being sold everywhere.

Tighten supervision of quality of imported fruits

Recently, the situation of trading in poor quality goods has become complicated. In Hai Phong City, many people have expressed their concerns about the quality and origin of fruits with imported stamps sold in traditional markets and on social networks.

Fruits with imported stamps are sold everywhere in traditional markets, shops, and on sidewalks, causing many people to wonder about their quality and origin.

Many people are concerned about the price difference between fruits in the market and in supermarkets and stores, as well as the ambiguity of the labels of these products. A few years ago, imported fruits were mainly sold in large supermarkets and specialized stores, but now they have become more popular, appearing in many traditional markets, and even spreading on social networks.

According to the reporter of Cong Thuong Newspaper, many types of fruits with foreign labels such as apples, oranges, cherries, pears, black grapes, milk grapes... are displayed by small traders on plastic trays, foam boxes, placed right on the sidewalk, even on the road. Sellers enthusiastically introduce these fruits as imported from the US, Chile, New Zealand, Korea... However, apart from the thin paper label stuck on the fruit (some fruits have it, some fruits don't), when asked about documents proving origin, sellers often try to avoid it.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa, in Nui Voi Street, Trai Chuoi Ward, Hong Bang District, Hai Phong City, shared: I myself am quite concerned about the quality and authenticity of imported fruits in the market, because the price is only 2/3 compared to that in supermarkets or stores specializing in imported fruits, while still having similar labels. For example: Envy apples cost only 100,000 - 120,000 VND/kg; American grapes cost 90,000 - 120,000 VND/kg... Meanwhile, the price at supermarkets or stores is usually about 30% higher.

Leaders of Hai Phong Department of Industry and Trade check the origin of fruits at supermarkets

Not only appearing in markets, shops, and sidewalks, but also on online sales pages, images of imported fruits are also widely promoted. Many sellers on platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, and Zalo also "show off" images and videos of their orchards to increase consumer trust. However, the authenticity of these images is still a big question mark.

According to Nguyen Binh Minh, Chairman of the Hai Phong City Association for Measurement and Protection of Consumer Rights, people's income is increasing, leading to an increase in demand for fruit consumption, especially imported fruit. In 2024, Vietnam will import 1.4 billion USD worth of unprocessed fresh fruit alone. However, the imported fruit market is still complicated. Officially imported fruit is inspected for quality, but unofficial goods are almost impossible to control in terms of quantity and quality. Many sellers also change labels, change boxes, and fake American, Korean, and New Zealand labels to sell at high prices. It is difficult for consumers to distinguish and are often forced to "trust the seller".

Towards a transparent and sustainable market

According to regulations, imported fruits must have clear information about their origin, food safety and hygiene inspection certificates, and invoices and sales documents to help trace their origins. However, due to high profits and the lack of strict control by management agencies, many sellers still ignore the regulations. In addition, the preference for cheap foreign goods among some consumers is also the reason why imported fruits of unknown origin are still widespread.

Consumers should choose to buy fruits with full labels and origins at shopping centers and supermarkets to ensure health.

Deputy Director of the Market Management Department (Hai Phong Department of Industry and Trade) Nguyen Ba Loc said: Due to high demand, some sellers take advantage of the reputation of imported fruits to mix fruits with the same name and appearance for sale. In the coming time, the city's Market Management Department will strengthen inspection, examination and supervision of fruit circulation, ensuring the origin, source, quality and food safety conditions. In particular, strictly handle violations if any, publicize them on mass media for people to know. At the same time, promote propaganda of legal regulations on commercial business, issue certificates of establishments meeting food safety conditions and issue identification signs to qualified stores.

However, Mr. Loc also noted: It is necessary to raise the awareness of law compliance of business entities and consumer awareness of the people. From there, create the habit of shopping at stores with identification signs, avoid buying fruit at businesses of unknown origin and not guaranteed quality, towards a transparent and sustainable market.

It can be seen that the situation of imported fruits with labels is currently widespread in the market. It is difficult for consumers to become smart consumers because it is very difficult to distinguish between real and fake when the technology of conjuring and "disguising labels" is increasingly sophisticated. Therefore, when buying imported fruits, consumers should not be greedy for cheap prices but should go to reputable addresses, clearly knowing the process of how the fruits are imported and distributed to avoid being deceived by sellers.

According to Decree 98/2020/ND-CP, the act of trading in goods of unknown origin will be punished depending on the value of the violation: the lowest is a warning or a fine of 600,000 - 1,000,000 VND (for goods under 1 million VND), the highest is up to 100 million VND (for goods over 100 million VND). The fine for organizations is double that of individuals.

Thu Anh

Source: https://congthuong.vn/hai-phong-trai-cay-gan-tem-nhap-khau-bay-ban-tran-lan-386933.html