10 kg of longan fruit, 32 USD and the story of Vietnamese agricultural products going in the "opposite direction"

According to the Import-Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade), on September 8, 2023, Iceland sent a warning on the European Union's Food Rapid Alert System about high levels of Carbaryl (pesticide) in Vietnamese longan (langsat).

Vietnamese longan warned in Iceland due to Carbaryl residue

According to Iceland's latest announcement, the Carbaryl content in longan fruit is at a high level and is potentially harmful to humans. The maximum allowable content of Carbaryl is 0.01 mg/kg - ppm, but the Carbaryl content detected in Vietnamese longan fruit exported to Iceland is up to 15.4 +/-50% mg/kg - ppm. Icelandic authorities consider this a serious case and currently, the country has restricted the distribution of longan fruit imported from Vietnam in their market and notified the warning system.

Carbaryl is a man-made insecticide that is highly toxic to insects. It is commonly used to control bed bugs, fire ants, fleas, ticks, spiders, and many other outdoor pests. Carbaryl has been registered for use in insecticide products since 1959. There are currently no Carbaryl products registered for use indoors to control insects such as mosquitoes, cockroaches, termites, or on pets.

Mr. Ngo Xuan Nam - Deputy Director of the Vietnam SPS Office - (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) said that this is a shipment of a business in Ho Chi Minh City exported to the EU, with a total weight of 386 kg, worth 1,015 USD with 46 agricultural products, including vegetables, tubers, and fruits such as water spinach, Vietnamese coriander, perilla, water mimosa, mustard greens, basil, papaya, squash... Of which, bonbon fruit is only 10 kg, worth 32 USD, according to the invoice of the unit exporting to Iceland.

“Thus, in the entire shipment of 46 products, only 10kg of longan fruit exceeded the maximum allowable limit of Carbaryl according to EU regulations,” said Mr. Ngo Xuan Nam.

Mr. Ngo Xuan Nam said that professional Vietnamese agricultural exporters basically understand the market regulations. However, there are some cases where groups of people visit relatives, they send goods over or students go to school and bring Vietnamese agricultural products. Or small businesses, that is, bring a very small quantity of goods, typically the case of a shipment of 10 kg of longan fruit that was warned. "Although only 10 kg of longan fruit was warned by a group of people with insufficient awareness, it has affected the reputation of Vietnamese agricultural products," said Mr. Ngo Xuan Nam.

Regarding handling of infringing goods, there are many different forms of warning and measures, depending on the level of violation. At a mild level, it is notifying the manufacturer, at a higher level, it is being destroyed in the importing country or having the goods returned.

However, the problem does not stop at numbers that can be measured in money. More importantly, it is the brand and reputation of the entire Vietnamese agricultural products industry that, if lost, will be difficult to regain.

In a recent story about building agricultural product brands in the EU export market with reporters from the Industry and Trade Newspaper, Ms. Hoang Thi Lien - President of the Vietnam Pepper Association - emphasized that we need to make sure that the foundation from the root is quality, we need to convince the export market with quality, then, the story of building a brand.

According to Ms. Hoang Thi Lien, the EU currently sets more than 500 criteria on pesticide residue levels that need to be controlled. These criteria create great pressure on the entire chain from production to export.

“The EU is a demanding market and businesses need to constantly update issues related to quality control. This year, the number may only stop at 507 criteria on pesticide residue levels, however, next year, this number may increase by 1-2 more criteria. They constantly update the market to ensure criteria on quality and food safety,” Ms. Lien shared.

In order to avoid unfortunate incidents that affect the reputation and position of Vietnamese agricultural products in the international market, Mr. Ngo Xuan Nam recommends that when people and businesses bring Vietnamese agricultural products abroad, they must clearly understand the regulations of that country on food safety control and disease safety, because each member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has different regulations on quarantine subjects, residue levels, procedures, etc.

“We need to understand that when joining the WTO, we must commit to complying with the agreement on food safety and animal and plant disease safety measures (SPS Agreement) in agricultural trade,” Mr. Nam emphasized, noting that Vietnam is currently participating in 17 free trade agreements, including commitments on SPS.

And SPS commitments are mandatory measures, without discrimination, regardless of composition, individual or organization, domestic or foreign... when violated, they will be handled according to the commitments that Vietnam has participated in.

To date, Vietnam has exported agricultural products to nearly 200 countries and territories around the world. In recent times, Vietnamese agricultural products have been highly appreciated by many countries for their quality, food safety and disease safety.

Vietnam is currently implementing its commitments to the SPS Agreement very seriously. The lesson of 10 kg of longan fruit worth 32 USD is important and worth learning.

Because it is like we go in the wrong direction, no matter what the reason is, it is still wrong and will be punished. In the story of food safety control, there is no story of "begging for", because this issue affects human health. Participating in the integration playground, we must respect the commitments, we are required to perform, this is good for both us and our partners.

And to significantly limit warning cases, causing damage not only to businesses but also affecting the brand of the entire agricultural product industry, perhaps we cannot only rely on the authorities but also need the awareness of each business and each product producer.

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