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China toughens import rules on Vietnamese durians after detecting health risks

Vietnam competes with Thailand as the top exporter of the fruit to China – but tighter customs inspections are slowing exports, analysts say

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Visitors view durian products from Vietnam at the 21st China-Asean Expo in Nanning, South China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, September 28, 2024. Photo: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images
Ralph Jennings
Chinese authorities have tightened oversight of imported Vietnamese durians this year after finding “excessive levels” of two potentially harmful substances in the popular, high-value fruit.

The General Administration of Customs of China now requires enhanced pre-export safety checks and compliance testing before shipments leave the source country, with “qualified” test reports to be attached to durians, a customs official told the Post, requesting anonymity due to internal rules.

She said the administration had intensified testing for the organic compound alkaline yellow and the metal cadmium in Vietnamese durians, after discovering concentrations that “seriously endangered the health of domestic consumers” at the start of 2025.

“In order to effectively prevent food safety risks, the General Administration of Customs immediately took action.”

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