In response to reports of contamination with cadmium of durians that were exported into China, Thailand has initiated an investigation. It is reported that the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) has expressed concerns regarding the levels of cadmium present within durian shipment, leading to a temporary stoppage of exports coming from certain Thai firms including packing houses, packaging companies and orchards certified under GAP. To address the issue to the concern, GACC has announced that the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has given with the Department of Agriculture with collecting and testing durian samples as well as soil, water as well as production inputs. Initial results indicate that cadmium levels have been found to be within China’s acceptable threshold that is 0.05 mg/kg.

Prayoon Insakul, the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives said “The preliminary investigations indicated that the affected fruits weren’t coming from the southern part of Thailand in the region where durians are now in bloom.” The cause of the cadmium contamination is thought to be a foreign country. In spite of this, Thai officials confirmed that China does not have a ban on durian exports to Thailand, and has allowed the exports to continue as normal.

To limit the risks of illegal imports and contamination, Thai authorities are enhancing security measures to stop the illegal smuggling of durians coming from neighbouring countries. It is essential to Thailand to ensure its position and share of the market in China as a key source of durian exports. The most reputable Thai exporters, like Platinum Fruit, have instituted rigorous testing protocols in order to guarantee that the quality and safety of their product, such as pre-season inspections, ongoing checks and random sampling prior to the export. The measures aim at ensuring that consumers have confidence regarding the quality and safety of Thai durians in every export market and not only China.

Source: The Star