EU warns Vietnam fruit and vegetable growers
(VOV) -The European Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Consumers (DG SANCO) has issued a warning to Vietnam fruit and vegetable growers, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s European Market Department announced on Oct. 6.
The Department reported that since Feb. 2, 2014, the DG SANCO has on three occasions, received information from EU member countries warning about batches of imported basil and bitter gourd from Vietnam, which tested positive for harmful organisms in the wood packaging boxes.
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| Bitter gourd |
Earlier, DG SANCO officially announced the EU would ban the import of Vietnamese fruit and vegetable if it finds more Vietnamese batches not in compliance with phytosanitary regulations during the period from Feb. 1, 2014 to Feb. 1, 2015.
According to the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), wood packing material should be dried at high temperature to kill harmful organisms and contain a safety inspection stamp.
The MoIT’s European Market Department has asked local importers to strictly follow phytosanitary regulations and meet all requirements for food hygiene and safety provided by the EU.