Excessive chemical residues in the ST25 rice exported to the EU

Vietnam Sanitary and Phytosanitary Office (SPS Office - MARD) has just received two Official Letters from the Ministry of Industry and Trade about Vietnam's export of agricultural and fishery products with chemical residues exceeding the levels prescribed by the European Union (EU).

According to Official Letter No. 6195/BCT-AM dated October 6th, 2021 the batch of fragrant rice ST25 brand “Queen” in Belgium had a residue level of the pesticide tricyclazole 0.017 mg/kg, exceeding the threshold for the EU permitted level (0.01 mg/kg).

This batch of rice was inspected by the importer Vinamex Group on its own in consultation with the Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC). Vinamex Group took the initiative to post a recall notice and asked customers not to consume this batch of product, and ordered the shipment to be returned to the warehouse for a refund.

Thanks to the proactive inspection and control of imported products, Vinamex Group’s product recall information is actively posted on the website of Belgian FASFC. This product has not been included in the European Commission's Rapid Alert for Food and Feed (RASFF).

In addition to the case of Excessive tricyclazole residues in the ST25 rice shipment in Belgium, the Vietnam SPS Office also received Official Letter No. 6353/BCT-AM dated October 12th, 2021 warning about residues of harmful substances in some other agricultural and aquatic products exported to the EU market.

The Dutch health authority detected the chemical chlorpyrifos ethyl in a shipment of bitter melon of Saka Saka Co., Ltd. The Spanish health authority discovered the banned substance profenofos (in addition to chlorpyrifos ethyl) also from this company.

The Italian health authorities detected undeclared sulfites in regard to the export shipment of crustaceans and seafood of Minh Chau Import and Export Seafood Processing Co., Ltd.

Norwegian and French health authorities detected nitrofurans (furazolidone) in frozen frog thighs, and propargite, fenobucarb in pomelos imported from Vietnam.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the quarantine agencies in the EU have all been notified and will heighten quarantine measures for the relevant import goods from Vietnam.

Vietnam SPS Office counsels that exporters need to firmly grasp and strictly comply with the regulations of the import market in order to ensure that they are not recalled or warned of violations and avoid affecting the reputation of their enterprises.

Regarding aquatic products, Vietnam SPS Office recommends businesses comply with regulations on the quality of animal feed in aquaculture and strictly control food safety hazards during preliminary processing and processing.

As for rice, vegetables and fruits, Vietnam SPS Office believes that businesses need to strengthen control, management and proper use in accordance with regulations on plant protection chemicals, strictly control food safety hazards during preliminary processing and packaging and strengthen traceability as well as planting area management.