On June 10th, Tien Phong Newspaper hosted a workshop on “Sustainable Development of the Durian Industry.”
Mr. Nguyen Quang Hieu, Deputy Director of the Plant Protection Department. Photo: Organizing Committee
Regarding the issue of cadmium-contaminated durians, Mr. Nguyen Quang Hieu, Deputy Director of the Plant Protection Department, said that when Vietnam received the first notification in March 2024 from China, the department conducted extensive and in-depth investigations, discovering areas with high cadmium residues.
Recently, the Plant Protection Department announced the main reasons for cadmium-contaminated soil, including natural factors such as soil characteristics, as well as intensive farming practices without adequate fallow periods. The subjective reason is the overuse of fertilizers by farmers, exceeding recommended amounts.
Notably, Mr. Vu Duy Hai, CEO of Vinacam Corporation, shared that the goal of achieving $3.7 billion in export revenue by 2025 is now challenged by the rejection of durians due to cadmium and gold content exceeding permissible limits.
Mr. Hai believes that this is not entirely the fault of farmers, contrary to accusations of improper use of fertilizers and pesticides, or even application rates ten times higher than recommended. He asserts that blame also lies with management agencies in the fields of fertilizers and crops, particularly in their handling of SPS warnings regarding cadmium and gold content in chili peppers, mangosteens, rambutans, and durians since 2022, as well as in DAP fertilizers, which Vinacam had already warned about on July 31, 2023.
Mr. Hai calls for clarification from authorities on whether Korean-imported DAP fertilizers are responsible for cadmium contamination in durians. He questions why, after receiving this information, the Plant Protection Department sent officials to inspect but did not disclose the results, suggesting that if the samples met requirements, they should have been made public to alleviate concerns, and if not, appropriate legal action should have been taken.
Dr. Nguyen Dang Nghia, former director of the Southern Center for Soil, Fertilizer, and Environmental Research, proposed that authorities investigate the fate of imported Korean DAP fertilizers with cadmium content of 28 mg/kg, exceeding the maximum allowable limit of 12 mg/kg, to prevent financial losses for farmers and sudden price drops.
In response to numerous questions about Korean DAP fertilizers, Mr. Nguyen Quang Hieu, Deputy Director of the Plant Protection Department, apologized for not being able to provide immediate answers during the conference.
However, Mr. Hieu argued that blaming the use of cadmium-contaminated DAP fertilizers for the durian issue is not entirely accurate.
According to the Plant Protection Department representative, DAP fertilizers are commonly used on various crops, especially in the Mekong Delta, where “flooding followed by water drainage” alters soil pH and cadmium solubility.
“Korean DAP imports account for only 4%, and other types of fertilizers are also used,” said Mr. Hieu.
Cadmium Contamination Warnings Issued Earlier
According to Mr. Dinh Duc Hiep, representative of the Vietnam SPS Office, the office has received notifications about several products exceeding permissible cadmium levels, including durians, chilies, mangosteens, and rambutans. Minor violations result in notifications to management agencies, while more severe cases lead to product returns.
In addition to China, the EU has also issued warnings regarding cadmium levels in Vietnamese durians.
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