Japan destroys 2 batches of Vietnamese durian and chili

Two batches of durian and chili peppers from Vietnam bound for Japan were forced to be destroyed in October due to chemical residue exceeding permitted standards.

The Vietnamese Trade Counselor in Japan said that recently, two shipments of durian and chili imported from Vietnam were sampled and analyzed by the Japanese quarantine agency and found to contain pesticide residues.

Accordingly, the shipment of durian weighing about 1.4 tons was imported through a large enterprise in Vietnam from October 5. When the goods arrived in Japan, the country's quarantine agency took samples for testing and discovered the residue of the active ingredient procymidone at a content of 0.03 ppm, while the Japanese standard is 0.01 ppm. This is an active ingredient in pesticides that kills mold. It is considered a toxic substance.

Regarding the chili shipment with a total weight of more than 4 tons, the Japanese quarantine agency took samples for testing with 4 active ingredients and discovered 2 active ingredients with residual levels exceeding the allowable threshold, including tricyclazole 0.2 ppm and hexaconazole 0.03 ppm, while the allowable standard is 0.01 ppm.

Due to the above violations, both shipments were requested to be destroyed by the Japanese quarantine agency.

Durian is purchased and prepared for export in Cai Lay (Tien Giang). Photo: Linh Dan — Durian is purchased and prepared for export in Cai Lay (Tien Giang). Photo: *Linh Dan*

Speaking to VnExpress, Mr. Ta Duc Minh, Vietnam's Trade Counselor in Japan, said he had reported the information to Vietnamese authorities to warn about the situation of goods violating regulations in the importing country.

According to Mr. Minh, similar violations are not only committed by Vietnam but also by many fruit shipments from other developed countries. However, Japan is a demanding market, and to have stable exports, businesses must ensure product quality, selling price and supply output.

He recommended that Vietnamese export enterprises when doing business with Japan need to know and fully meet the standards of the neighboring country to avoid general impacts on reputable businesses and Vietnamese brands.

According to the General Department of Customs, in the past 10 months, Japan was the third largest export market for Vietnamese agricultural, forestry and fishery products, accounting for 7.4% of total export value. Of which, fruit and vegetable exports to Japan reached more than 150 million USD, up 6.6% over the same period last year.

In the first 10 months of the year, Vietnam exported nearly 1.3 million USD worth of fresh durian to Japan, down 12.3% year-on-year. Frozen durian to Japan reached nearly 1.2 million USD, up 8.3% year-on-year. Most durian importers in Japan are small-scale. The goods are sold mainly in supermarkets where many Vietnamese people shop.

Thi Ha

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