China sends toxic fruit to Vietnam, ignores request for probe

China sends toxic fruit to Vietnam, ignores request for probe

Despite a huge number of fruit exports found to be toxic that were sent to Vietnam last year, China remains silent over Vietnam’s request to trace the origin of the fruit and probe the case.

In 2013 Vietnamese authorities detected 17 batches of fruit imports from China that failed to meet food safety standards, the agency that oversees the quality of agricultural and seafood products under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said earlier this week.

The shipments included lemons, grapes, mandarin oranges, apples, persimmons, oranges, carrots, and white carrots.

Fresh mandarin oranges accounted for seven of the 17 batches, and contained pesticide residue that was 1.5 to nine times greater than the allowed rate, according to the agency.

Vietnam has asked China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine to look into the case and provide its response to Vietnam soon, according to the Vietnamese agency.

However, it has yet to receive a response to the issue from the Chinese side.

tuoitrenews