Over 120000 Hectares of Vietnamese Durian at Risk as China Tightens Safety Checks

Fearing the loss of access to the massive Chinese market, the Durian Association of Dak Lak province has proposed the establishment of a “Red Alert” zone system to flag plantations with safety violations. The association has urged Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to reevaluate how export codes for plantations and packing facilities are issued and regulated.

The Red Alert proposal targets orchards showing signs of non-compliance. Once a violation is confirmed, authorities would be tasked with developing recovery protocols to restore export eligibility and promote sustainable durian farming. The association has also called for clear legal standards to streamline the code issuance process and support qualified businesses.

Since late 2024, Chinese customs has repeatedly flagged Vietnamese durians for containing excessive cadmium and auramine O, both considered harmful substances. China now mandates pre-clearance testing for these chemicals, with violators facing suspension from the export list.

In response, the Dak Lak Durian Association is working with regional agricultural science bodies to conduct large-scale residue testing and traceability efforts. Plans are underway to establish provincial-level quality standards, enabling better upstream control of food safety and improving long-term export sustainability.

The association also recommends the Ministry implement rapid on-site testing technologies and issue national-level food safety standards before fruit hits the market. Critically, they propose that durians in severe violation of safety rules should not be diverted to domestic sales, but destroyed outright to protect public health and industry reputation.

Vietnam has over 150,000 hectares of durian plantations, yet only 20% hold the required export production codes. In Dak Lak alone, the 2025 harvest is expected to reach 500,000 tons, but many orchards still fall short of technical pesticide standards, weakening the region’s global competitiveness at a critical moment.