The ministry said the difficulties had directly affected product consumption, farmers’ incomes and business operations.
Deputy Agriculture and Environment Minister Vo Van Hung asked provincial and municipal authorities to work closely with businesses and cooperatives to support sales, connect markets and quickly resolve problems related to production, harvesting, processing, packaging and transport.
Local authorities were also instructed to tighten oversight of growing areas and packaging facilities to ensure compliance with planting area codes, traceability rules and food safety standards required by importing markets.
Testing facilities were told to expand staffing, equipment and operational capacity to speed up procedures for durian and other farm products and prevent prolonged backlogs.
Hung requested testing centres to maximise resources and arrange flexible working schedules, including overtime when necessary, to shorten testing times while ensuring accuracy.
The ministry said testing procedures, timelines and costs must be made transparent to prevent misconduct or harassment.
The Crop Production and Plant Protection Department was tasked with working with China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) to accelerate approval for additional testing laboratories and seek reinstatement of suspended facilities that had submitted corrective reports.
The department was instructed to review growing areas at high risk of cadmium contamination and guide localities on farming measures, including fertiliser and water use, to reduce risks and meet import-market standards.
Hung added that heads of relevant agencies and units would be held directly accountable to the minister for implementation results and must promptly report difficulties and proposed solutions to the ministry.
