HCMC – Authorities in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap have proposed measures to do away with bottlenecks in testing durian and jackfruit for exports, as falling prices and disruptions in customs clearance put pressure on farmers and businesses in the region.
The provincial government has urged the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to address delays in testing for cadmium and Auramine O, substances subject to strict inspection requirements by China, Vietnam’s largest fruit export market.
The proposal comes as testing centers approved by China have temporarily stopped accepting samples from the Mekong Delta region, causing difficulties for exporters of the two key fruit products. The disruption has coincided with the peak harvest season, when output is expected to reach hundreds of thousands of tons, increasing pressure on the domestic market.
Dong Thap has asked the ministry to direct testing centers to increase capacity and continue accepting samples while requiring at least seven days’ notice before any suspension so businesses can make preparations. The province also proposed that the ministry work with the General Administration of Customs China (GACC) to establish a more flexible post-clearance inspection mechanism to avoid suspending testing laboratories over isolated discrepancies.
In addition, Dong Thap has requested early approval for the province’s Center for Applied Science and Technology Research and Green Farm Vina to conduct local testing services for farmers and exporters. For the longer term, Dong Thap proposed expanding a real-time durian traceability system and decentralizing authority to local agencies to monitor production data from growing area codes and packing facilities.
Consumption pressure is mounting as Dong Thap’s durian output is estimated at more than 111,000 tons and jackfruit production at over 68,000 tons during May and June alone. Local authorities said resolving testing bottlenecks is critical not only for meeting Chinese technical standards but also for protecting farm produce prices during the peak harvest season.
