Sầu riêng tại nhà vườn ở miền Tây. Ảnh: Mạnh Khương
The Dak Lak Durian Association announced that it is working with the Central Highlands Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute to conduct large-scale sampling in order to assess cadmium and Auramine O residue levels, as well as trace their origins. In the long term, Dak Lak Province plans to develop its own set of standards to control durian quality at the source, aiming for sustainable exports and maintaining its market position in China.
However, the Association has urged the Ministry to promptly issue technical standards and integrate rapid on-site testing technologies to evaluate food safety indicators before products are released to the market or exported. For shipments found to have serious chemical violations, instead of redirecting them to the domestic market, authorities should destroy them to protect consumer health and safeguard the industry’s reputation.
Vietnam currently has over 150,000 hectares of durian plantations, but only 20% have been granted planting area codes qualifying for official export. In Dak Lak – the Central Highlands’ key durian-growing province – output this year is estimated at 500,000 tonnes, with the main harvest season approaching. Most planting area codes in the province fail to meet technical requirements and pesticide regulations, impacting product quality and international competitiveness.
China remains Vietnam’s largest durian export market. Since the signing of the bilateral plant quarantine protocol in 2022, Vietnam’s durian export turnover reached USD 3.2 billion in 2024, making it one of the country’s fastest-growing agricultural exports.
Source: Thi Ha – VnExpres
