Vietnam currently has 24 testing laboratories accredited by the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) to support durian exports, with a total theoretical capacity of around 3,200 samples per day — sufficient to meet actual demand.

According to Huỳnh Tấn Đạt, Director General of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, several laboratories were forced to temporarily suspend operations in mid-October due to maintenance, equipment breakdowns, or pending reassessment. This interruption prevented businesses from completing the mandatory analyses for cadmium and Yellow O — two key indicators required to obtain export certification. Consequently, durian exports in the Central Highlands, particularly Đắk Lắk — the country’s largest growing region — experienced significant congestion.

Mr. Đạt explained that the high demand for testing during the peak harvest season led to overworked equipment, resulting in technical failures. Some laboratories had to suspend operations to replace machines or lease temporary equipment.

Previously, the registration and renewal of testing laboratories were managed by the Department of Quality, Processing, and Market Development. However, since July 1, the responsibility has been delegated to local authorities. Many localities are still facing procedural challenges, delaying implementation.

Following urgent directives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, testing operations have now largely returned to normal. Export activities at major border gates have resumed smoothly — with approximately 200–250 trucks passing daily through Lạng Sơn, 100–150 through Lào Cai, and around 50 through Móng Cái, totaling 300–400 shipments each day.

The Department of Quality, Processing, and Market Development has been tasked with reassessing the capacity of all accredited laboratories and coordinating with the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection to deploy experts for local support. The Ministry has also requested full mobilization of qualified facilities to process pending samples, ensuring smooth export flow and protecting nearly 150,000 hectares of durian plantations with an expected output of over 1.5 million tons this year.

“The Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection is enhancing technical exchanges, data sharing, and guidance for local authorities to take a more proactive role in sampling and quality control, ensuring stable production and durian consumption through the end of the season,” Mr. Đạt said.

Deputy Minister Hoàng Trung noted that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is continuing discussions with GACC to expedite the approval and accreditation of new testing laboratories, aiming to strengthen Vietnam’s testing capacity. In the long term, he emphasized that ensuring accuracy and transparency within domestic testing facilities is fundamental, alongside preventing cadmium and Yellow O contamination directly at the source — a critical step to safeguard the reputation and continuity of Vietnamese durian exports.

In the short term, the Ministry is working closely with law enforcement agencies to trace the use of Yellow O in durian prior to export. “The Ministry has completed a technical report detailing the root causes, corrective measures, and management strategies for Yellow O and cadmium contamination, which has been submitted to the Chinese side for consideration to lift the additional testing requirements,” Mr. Trung added.

Clarifying Responsibility for the Testing Disruptions

Following reports of durian export congestion caused by testing laboratory shutdowns, Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà has directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to urgently inspect and determine the causes and accountability of organizations and individuals whose actions led to the disruptions.He also requested strengthened supervision of laboratory operations, along with a comprehensive review and improvement of all legal and administrative procedures governing testing facilities. The Ministry must coordinate with relevant agencies and localities to accelerate the approval and renewal of laboratory licenses serving durian exports, ensuring they meet technical, environmental, and international standards.The Deputy Prime Minister has also ordered ongoing monitoring of corrective actions and required a progress report to be submitted to him before November 7.

Source: Tuổi Trẻ Online