Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Thailand has destroyed 64.7 tons of durian after China rejected the shipment due to contamination with yellow dye, according to the Thai Department of Agriculture.
Rapeepat Chansriwong, Director-General of the Department of Agriculture, confirmed that laboratory tests on the rejected durians detected traces of Basic Yellow 2 (BY2), the substance cited by Chinese authorities as the reason for refusing the shipment.
BY2 has recently come under scrutiny as it is artificially used to enhance the yellow color of durians, particularly for export purposes. Reports suggest that some exporters have been soaking the fruit in this dye to make it more visually appealing.
According to The Straits Times, Rapeepat stated that the contaminated durians were buried by authorities at quarantine offices in the deep-sea port of Laem Chabang and at the Aranyaprathet border checkpoint.
In response to the incident, Thailand has suspended export licenses for 26 durian suppliers linked to the contaminated shipments.
Revise Guideline
The Thai Ministry of Agriculture also announced plans to revise export guidelines to prevent similar occurrences in the future, as reported by CNN Indonesia.
The discovery of the dye has led China to impose mandatory laboratory testing for all imported durians, including those from Vietnam. Only laboratories approved by Chinese authorities are permitted to conduct these tests. However, delays in China’s recognition of Vietnamese testing facilities caused significant shipment disruptions in January.
It was only late last month that China approved a list of nine laboratories to conduct durian inspections, causing many businesses to struggle with timely testing.
China’s Rising Demand for Durian
Durian has become an increasingly sought-after delicacy in China, often commanding high prices. Last year, China set a record with $6.99 billion in durian imports, with 57% sourced from Thailand, followed by Vietnam with a 41.5% market share.
Read Also:
Vietnam Emerges as New Global Durian Powerhouse, Surpasses Indonesia in Exports
However, Vietnam has since surpassed Thailand to become the world’s largest durian exporter, thanks in part to its stringent quality assurance measures. Currently, Vietnam is negotiating with China to expand the list of approved laboratories to streamline customs clearance.
The recent contamination case poses a significant threat to Thailand’s position as a top durian producer, potentially solidifying Vietnam’s dominance in the global durian market.
