Many businesses admit that the lack of standards for preservatives and durian ripening makes it easy for them to contaminate entire shipments with yellow O, according to Chinese regulations, without knowing it - Photo: TRUNG TAN
Warning since July 2023 but not yet completely resolved
Vinacam Group has just sent a document to the Prime Minister requesting clarification of unusual signs related to a batch of Korean DAP fertilizer with cadmium content exceeding the threshold, after thousands of containers of Vietnamese durian were returned by China due to heavy metal residue exceeding the standard.
According to Vinacam, the durian return incident has attracted special public attention, seriously affecting the key export industry, causing confusion among farmers and threatening to "wipe out" growing areas if not handled promptly and transparently.
This issue was warned by the enterprise since the end of July 2023 through an official dispatch sent to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and relevant authorities.
However, the issue has not been clarified yet, especially regarding the batch of Korean DAP fertilizer with cadmium content exceeding the permissible level.
Press agencies such as VTV9, Can Tho Television, Nong Nghiep Viet Nam Newspaper, Tuoi Tre ... have also joined in to reflect the worrying situation.
Notably, Vinacam said that there were signs of irresponsibility when the management agency did not announce the results of re-testing cadmium on the recalled DAP fertilizer sample, even considering this an "internal business matter" that could not be handled in accordance with legal regulations.
Submit petition to the Prime Minister
Faced with the risk of affecting other agricultural products for export because the same growing area uses this fertilizer, Vinacam continues to send a document to the Government requesting four contents of direction to clarify the process of handling Korean DAP batches exceeding the cadmium threshold; publicize the test results and treatment plan, urgently test cadmium residue in other agricultural products; issue clear recommendations so that farmers have a basis for orientation when handling returned durian batches.
Vinacam emphasized that transparency in the processing process is a mandatory condition to protect the agricultural export industry, avoid causing economic losses to the country and putting farmers and businesses in a passive position.
The Group said it is ready to provide relevant records and documents if requested by authorities.
According to experts and businesses, the batches of Vietnamese durian that were "whistled" when exported to China were contaminated with cadmium, a toxic heavy metal found in DAP fertilizer. Cadmium is present in many types of soil, but the content varies depending on the region, some are high, some are low, due to many different factors.
Currently, phosphate ore originating from Morocco (the world's largest exporter) always contains heavy metals such as cadmium (phosphate is the main raw material for producing DAP fertilizer).
Meanwhile, Vietnam imports DAP fertilizer from fertilizer factories in China, Australia, Russia... In particular, DAP from Korea produced by Namhae factory contains cadmium content exceeding the permissible limit.
According to analysis by some leading DAP importers, cadmium in DAP fertilizer imported from Korea is up to 28mg/kg, while the allowable threshold is 12mg/kg.
Since 2020, the agricultural sector has been "concerned" about cadmium but has not been resolute, leading to today having to pay the price for batches of durian found to contain cadmium.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/kien-nghi-lam-ro-trach-nhiem-vu-sau-rieng-bi-tra-vi-du-luong-cadmium-20250528110049831.htm
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