To build a strong durian brand, production and packaging organization must meet, and even exceed, the requirements of the export market.

There is still a situation of impersonating the growing area code.

According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, in the first 6 months of this year, durian exports reached 1.32 billion USD, an increase of 44.5% over the same period in 2023. China is still the most important market with 1.22 billion USD, an increase of nearly 46% over the same period last year.

The latest report from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shows that by the end of July this year, fruit and vegetable exports earned 3.8 billion USD, a sharp increase of 24.3% over the same period last year. This Vietnamese strength is forecast to reach 7 billion USD in export turnover this year. Because durian - the "king of fruits" of our country - is entering the main harvest season with a large output for export.

Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen - General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association - informed that in 2023, Vietnam's durian exports will reach their highest value in September and October, with a value of nearly half a billion USD per month. Durian - the staple of the fruit and vegetable group - is gaining a position because of its cheap price, freshness, and fast shipping time.

In recent years, global demand for durian has increased by 400% mainly due to increased purchasing power from China. It is forecasted that the demand for durian from China could increase 15 times in the future. This fruit is increasingly asserting its position in the Chinese market and is favored by consumers. Therefore, it is forecasted that durian exports in 2024 will continue to grow strongly.

However, the "explosion" of durian exports has also caused this industry to face many problems that threaten sustainable development. Recently, the General Department of Customs of China announced that it would ban the import of durian from 18 growing regions and 15 packaging facilities in Vietnam due to the discovery of "heavy metal" residues exceeding the permitted level.

Recently, the inspection team of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Dak Lak province is implementing a plan to conduct surprise inspections at durian export businesses and packaging facilities in the province.

Through surprise inspections, the team discovered many problems. For example, at the Uyen Diep Krong Pac Agricultural Cooperative (Ea Yong commune, Krong Pac district), the team discovered that at the time of inspection, this facility had 100 boxes of durian printed with the growing region code VN-GLOR-0177 and the packaging facility code VN-SGPH-014. Meanwhile, the Cooperative's packaging code is VN-DLPH-059.

Mr. Nguyen Van Diet - Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director of the Cooperative - said that the packaging code has not been used to export durian. Explaining the reason for the growing area code and packaging facility code being affixed on durian boxes at the Cooperative, Mr. Diet said that the owner affixed them himself, and that it had nothing to do with the Cooperative. The Cooperative only buys fresh durian locally, then processes it and sells it to the owner. The purchase and sale does not have a contract.

In addition to Uyen Diep Agricultural Cooperative of Krong Pac, the inspection team also discovered many violations at the business location of Dung Thai Son Import-Export Trading Joint Stock Company (Km23, National Highway 26, Tan My village, Krong Pac district).

At the time of inspection, the representative of this facility only provided legal documents and records under the name of Dung Thai Son Import-Export Trading Joint Stock Company (headquartered at Km23, National Highway 26, Tan My village, Krong Pac district).

At the time of inspection, the team noted that the facility did not meet the conditions for ensuring food safety such as: The food production process does not follow the one-way principle from input materials to final products; the storage area and warehouse do not have or are not fully equipped with shelves, nameplates, regulations, processes, hygiene regimes;...

The above facility has not provided documents and records such as: Business registration certificate; Food safety certificate; ISO certificate; records, raw material source tracking records; records, product distribution tracking records; warehouse lease contract; fire prevention and fighting; environmental protection; records related to growing area codes, packaging facility codes used for export.

Mr. Pham Van Luong - Director of Dung Thai Son Import-Export Trading Joint Stock Company - said that in Krong Pac district, the company has 3 facilities (warehouses for purchasing and packaging fresh durian for export). However, only 1 head office has a business registration, the warehouse that the inspection team inspected is located in the same area as the head office and the company, so it is not registered for business. This is a location for purchasing and packaging fresh durian, so it is not registered for food safety certification with the competent authority...

Regarding goods, fresh durian is purchased and packaged at business locations, then brought to the head office to affix the growing area code, the packing facility code, and exported to China. Since the beginning of the year, Dung Thai Son Import-Export Trading Joint Stock Company has not exported any shipments of fresh durian to China, so it does not have authorization papers from the growing areas.

Need to organize production higher than market demand

Dak Lak is entering the durian harvest season in 2024. This year, the durian area of ​​this locality is forecast to reach 34,000 - 35,000 hectares, with an estimated output of over 300,000 tons. Previously, the Dak Lak Provincial People's Committee had a document requesting the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to consider amending and supplementing the National Standard (TCVN) 10739: 2015 - Fresh durian. This standard is currently causing great difficulties in the process of managing and monitoring the quality of durian products.

At the same time, it is recommended that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development consider and study the issuance of mechanisms and policies to encourage organizations and individuals to produce and import raw materials, colorants, ripening agents and preserving durian as soon as possible. In addition, consider and negotiate with the General Administration of Customs of China to prioritize early inspection and approval for growing areas and facilities that have submitted documents and are waiting for the Chinese side to inspect and approve in time for the durian harvest season in 2024.

Regarding the issue of durian export, Mr. Phung Duc Tien - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development - said that the fact that durian is granted an export protocol to the Chinese market has opened up great opportunities for this fruit. In 2023, the durian growing area will be 125,000 hectares, of which 60% of this area is being harvested. After durian was opened to the Chinese market, durian prices increased sharply.

Regarding the shortcomings in the production organization process from the growing area code, the packaging facility code and in the entire management process, the Plant Protection Department has closely followed and regularly issued instructions to maintain the brand and reputation of durian.

However, in the market mechanism, with small-scale production, it is impossible to avoid the above-mentioned shortcomings. But with deep and wide integration, we are required to update market requirements; we must meet the criteria, standards and regulations of the market. "To build a strong brand, the requirements for production and packaging organization must meet, even exceed, the requirements of the market, especially the Chinese market", Mr. Phung Duc Tien emphasized.

Regarding concerns about the quality of exported durian, Mr. Ngo Xuan Nam - Deputy Director of the Vietnam SPS Office - recommended that businesses, people and agencies need to meet the requirements of the Protocol, focusing on controlling food safety and quarantine objects, complying with requirements for managing growing area codes, packing facility codes and requirements for logs, production records as well as food safety monitoring programs before harvest.

According to: Nguyen Hanh - Cong Thuong Newspaper