KhmerTimes-May 16, 2025
The General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) has stepped up measures against illegal imports of durians into the Kingdom from neighboring countries. In a directive issued yesterday, the GDCE has ordered all wings of the department to gather durian samples for analysis. “If the assessment and analysis show that a particular sample of durians contain substances harmful to human health, the whole set of durians sold at a specific place must be seized and immediately reported to the GDCE for further legal action,” the GDCE said in a statement. These measures follow growing concerns over the presence of certain chemical substances in durians mainly imported illegally into the Kingdom from Thailand and Vietnam. Vietnam media last week reported about the use of chemicals there to accelerate durian ripening in Dak Lak province, which borders Cambodia’s Mondulkiri province. The reports also mentions authorities seizing chemicals worth $4million from the accused. According to various reports that surfaced during the last few weeks, there have been ongoing efforts to illegally smuggle durians into Cambodia from Thailand and Vietnam following a market surplus after China banned durian imports from these countries. “These illegally imported durians were sold in Cambodian market under the guise of produce grown in Kampot, Kampong Cham, Battambang and Tbong Khmum.” China temporarily banned durian imports from Thailand in late 2024 due to the detection of Basic Yellow 2 dye in some shipments. This chemical is classified as a possible carcinogen and was found in the fruit, leading to concerns about product safety. China now requires all durian shipments from Thailand to undergo testing for BY2 and cadmium to ensure they are free of these chemicals. The GDCAF within the Ministry of Commerce also issued a notification last week regarding adulterated durians imported from neighboring countries being sold in Cambodian markets, claiming them to have been produced in the Kingdom. Both the General Department of Food and Drug Administration and the General Department of Environmental Protection have as well swung into action by carrying out inspections across the Cambodian markets to prevent the sale of illegally-imported durians. Read more at: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501684727/gdce-cracks-whip-over-illegal-durian-imports/#google_vignette
