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Durian exports to China resumes on Monday

Durian exports to China resumes on Monday

Thailand will resume its durian exports to China by Monday as rapid contamination tests are nearing completion, according to Deputy Agriculture Minister Itthi Sirilatthayakorn.

He informed parliament on Thursday that the Department of Agriculture and laboratory operators are almost finished with contamination testing for Basic Yellow 2 (BY2), a potentially carcinogenic coloring agent, to ensure the safety of Thai durian fruit. “Laboratories will be ready to test China-bound durian within 48 hours,” he stated, adding that shipments could resume on Monday if the fruit passes inspection. The certification of export standards is expected to facilitate the upcoming sales of durian from southern Thailand to China during the Lunar New Year period.

Mr. Itthi also assured that relevant agencies, including the Department of Agriculture, would ensure that any durians rejected by China would not be sold in Thailand.

In September of last year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives uncovered the illegal use of Basic Yellow 2, which had been imported from China and was unregistered with the Thai Food and Drug Administration. The additive was used by durian packing facilities that were financed by a Chinese investment group in the southern province of Chumphon, which were subsequently ordered to stop using the unregistered substance.

However, during a follow-up inspection a month later, officials found that the packing houses were still using the additive and issued warning letters.

On Saturday, the ministry was notified that durian exports had been rejected at Nanning Airport in China due to missing documentation certifying that the products were free from Basic Yellow 2.

Thai durian is extremely popular among Chinese consumers, who are willing to pay a premium for high-quality fruit. In 2023, Thai durian exports reached a value of 90 billion baht, representing an 82% increase from the previous year, according to data from the Department of Foreign Trade. Shipments to China accounted for 70% of Thailand’s total durian exports.

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