Reporters from Dân trí raised questions about the irregularities in the management of durian growing area codes during the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s regular press conference on the morning of December 4. This issue has garnered public attention following recent arrests and indictments of several business leaders for trading growing area codes and inspection certificates.
Mr. Nguyen Quoc Manh responded at the press conference (Photo: The Kha).
Mr. Nguyen Quoc Manh, Deputy Director of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, stated that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development manages two types of growing area codes: those issued under Article 64 of the Law on Cultivation (domestic growing area codes) and those for packing facilities, implemented according to protocols signed with importing countries (export growing area codes).
To date, the ministry has issued 5,900 domestic growing area codes, 9,334 export growing area codes, and 1,752 packing facility codes.
“Recently, functional agencies have prosecuted several individuals involved in the illegal trading of growing area codes. The Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection recognizes that growing area codes for export are clearly defined in the protocols, with specific areas and responsible entities assigned. The exchange and sale of growing area codes contrary to regulations are illegal and must be strictly dealt with,” Mr. Manh said.
Furthermore, according to Mr. Manh, the illegal trading of growing area codes has severely damaged the reputation of Vietnamese agricultural products with importing countries.
“We consider these to be very serious acts, directly affecting production,” Mr. Manh emphasized.
To address the shortcomings, the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend the Law on Cultivation, specifically Article 64, to include additional regulations for managing growing area codes and packing facilities.
The agency hopes that media outlets will help people, businesses, and organizations clearly understand the regulations related to the issuance and management of growing area codes to ensure strict compliance.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has also directed relevant units to apply technology and artificial intelligence (AI) for agricultural product traceability, with a pilot program focusing on durians.
In early November, the Police Investigation Agency for Corruption, Economic, and Smuggling Crimes (C03, Ministry of Public Security) announced the indictment of 17 defendants in a case involving the Quality Inspection, Verification, and Service Center (Retaq), NhoNho Technology Co., Ltd. (NhoNho Company), Thuy Fruit One-Member Co., Ltd. (Thuy Fruit Company), and related entities.
Among them, Tran Dang Ninh, Director of Retaq; Hoang Ba Nghi, Chairman of the Board of Members of NhoNho Company; Dinh Hoang Thien, Director of NhoNho Company; Le Sy Nghi, Director of NhoNho Company’s Testing Center; Nguyen Truong, Deputy Director of NhoNho Company’s Testing Center; Vu Duc Hai, Director of Scitech Joint Stock Company, along with another individual, were all charged with accepting bribes.
Mr. Pham Thanh Tri, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Golf Tourism Association, was charged with abusing influence over people with positions and authority for personal gain.
The remaining defendants were charged with giving bribes, brokering bribes, and violating accounting regulations causing serious consequences.
Defendant Pham Thanh Tri (Photo: Ministry of Public Security).
During the investigation, C03 discovered that in the field of durian export from Vietnam to China, there were activities of trading growing area codes and inspection certificates, as well as violations of accounting regulations, causing particularly severe damage to state assets.
These violations also negatively impacted the legitimate operations of honest businesses, leading to the export of durians with incorrect origins, failure to meet standards, and affecting the reputation and competitiveness of Vietnamese agricultural products in general, and durians in particular, in the market.
C03 stated that it is continuing to consolidate documents and evidence to prove the criminal acts of the indicted defendants; simultaneously, expanding the investigation to comprehensively and thoroughly deal with the organized violations of the defendants and related individuals; verifying, seizing, and freezing assets to recover them thoroughly for the state.
