As Vietnam’s billion-dollar durian export sector faces the risk of being shut out of key markets, Vinacam Group has petitioned the Prime Minister to investigate responsibility for recent rejections due to excessive cadmium residue. The company has also raised concerns about suspicious signs related to a widely used Korean DAP fertilizer.

Vinacam recently sent an official letter to the Prime Minister requesting a thorough review of cadmium levels in DAP fertilizer.

According to the company, in recent months, durian has become a focal point of concern after thousands of containers were rejected by China due to cadmium content exceeding legal limits.

xThis poses a severe threat to the industry, potentially pushing farmers and supporting businesses into heavy losses or bankruptcy if the issue is not urgently resolved.

Vinacam specifically identified a Korean DAP fertilizer that has long been favored by farmers for its quick solubility, making it suitable for vegetables, industrial crops, and high-value fruits - especially durian. Major areas using this fertilizer include Tien Giang, Long An, Dong Thap, Binh Duong, and Dong Nai.

According to Vietnamese standards, the maximum permissible cadmium content in imported and circulated DAP fertilizer - including Korean DAP - is 12 mg/kg.

Notably, market management authorities in several provinces have submitted samples of circulating DAP fertilizer to analytical centers, where cadmium levels were found to exceed the permitted threshold.

In response, during the first half of 2023, Vinacam held multiple meetings and exchanged letters with the Korean fertilizer manufacturer, requesting improvements to the production process and changes to raw material sources to meet Vietnamese standards. However, both parties have yet to reach an agreement.

Vinacam had already raised the alarm in late July 2023 by submitting official communications to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and other relevant authorities. Media outlets also reported extensively on this growing concern.

Despite these efforts, the issue remains unresolved - particularly concerning the batch of Korean DAP fertilizer found to contain excessive cadmium.

At the time, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development dispatched an inspection team, which worked with local market management authorities to collect samples in Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Dong Nai, and at a storage facility in Bien Hoa Industrial Park I. However, Vinacam claims it has yet to receive any test results from the authorities.

On October 12, 2023, Vinacam once again sent a formal request to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, urging public disclosure of test results from samples of Korean DAP fertilizer imported in June and July 2023. The company said this information is critical to continuing negotiations with its Korean partner.

Both the warning and follow-up request from Vinacam have so far gone unanswered.

To ensure transparency and identify a comprehensive solution to cadmium contamination in durian and other agricultural products, Vinacam has petitioned the Prime Minister to direct the relevant agencies to clarify the handling process of Korean DAP fertilizer found to exceed cadmium limits.

Vinacam also called on the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to publicly release the retest results of DAP fertilizer samples collected in August 2023. The company further requested clarity on the procedures for handling previously “self-recalled” DAP batches and on the remaining stock still circulating at the time of inspection.

Additionally, Vinacam asked the Prime Minister to instruct technical agencies to proactively inspect and prevent cadmium contamination in other crops - particularly exports grown in regions where Korean DAP fertilizer has been widely used in recent years.

The company also urged official guidance for farmers on how to handle returned durian shipments found to exceed cadmium limits.

Given farmers’ long-standing trust in Korean DAP fertilizer, Vinacam noted that this may be a key factor in elevated cadmium levels in soil, which could be causing excessive cadmium in durian.

Vinacam also warned that other fruit crops grown in the same areas might similarly exceed cadmium limits if tested.

The group emphasized its readiness to provide documentation and related records to competent authorities upon request.

Tam An