Durian shipments face bottlenecks as prices fall; government calls for swift action.

In response to hundreds of trucks carrying durian becoming stalled and prices dropping sharply, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has urged local authorities and relevant agencies to promptly remove bottlenecks in the testing and inspection process to boost exports. The ministry said that recently the export of durian and other key agricultural commodities has faced difficulties, notably bottlenecks in testing and inspection, origin tracing, and meeting the standards of import markets. This situation has directly affected the consumption of the products, farmers' incomes, and the production and export activities of enterprises. To promptly address these difficulties and promote exports, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment requests the chairs of the provincial People’s Committees to decisively direct the departments, agencies and localities to review the situation, actively engage with enterprises and cooperatives, and thereby timely support consumption, connect markets, and resolve obstacles in organizing production, harvesting, processing, packaging, and circulation of agricultural products. Additionally, strengthen the management of growing areas and packaging facilities, ensuring full compliance with planting-area codes, origin tracing, and food-safety regulations as required by import markets. Direct the local testing facilities under local management to strengthen capacity, manpower, and equipment to shorten the testing time for durian and other agricultural products, ensuring timely export demand and preventing bottlenecks from lasting. Take measures to inspect, monitor, and strictly handle testing facilities in the area that cause difficulties, delays, fail to perform or fail to fully perform duties as prescribed.