Vietnam halts agricultural product imports from Indonesia

Contaminated tamarind imported from Indonesia (Photo: baomoi.com)

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam has suspended the import ofpeanuts (Arachis hypogaea), cassiatora linn (Cassia spp.), cocoa seeds(Theobroma cacao) and beans (Phaseolus spp.) from Indonesia. 

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The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development made thedecision on January 19 after it found that the products are likely to becontaminated with the insect Caryedon serratus Olivier which is subject toVietnam’s plant quarantine. 

The suspension will take effect after 60 days since January19.

The insect, which is listed among dangerous species, cancause huge economic losses to stored agricultural products.

In 2016, the Phytosanitary Authority under the PlantProtection Department detected the insect Caryedon serratus Olivier in over5,000 tonnes of peanuts and tamarinds imported from Indonesia.

The authority also found nearly 1,000 tonnes of peanutimported from Indonesia contaminated with the insect within 11 days fromJanuary 5 – 11, 2017.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on January6 issued a decision to halt tamarind imports from Indonesia for a similarreason.

However, Indonesia gave no feedback although the PlantProtection Department had notified Indonesia’s authorised agencies about theissue.-VNA

VNA