Peanuts being sold in a market in India. — Photo earthtrekkers.com

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong signed a decision on March 1, 2017, to stop importing a number of agricultural products from India.

The decision was signed because these products were found to be contaminated with peanut beetle (Caryedon serratus Olivier).

Within 60 days from the signing date, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) will stop issuing import permits for peanut (Arachis hypogaea), cassia seed (Cassia spp), cocoa nut (Theobroma cacao), haricot bean (Phaseolus spp) and tamarind (Tamarindus indica) from India into Viet Nam.

The Plant Protection Department (PPD) of MARD will impose strict control on all shipments of the said products that have crossed the Vietnamese border to expose and prevent the spread of peanut beetle contamination.

PPD stated that since 2016, phytosanitary units had found over 3,000 tonnes of peanuts and 24 tonne of tamarind from India containing the live beetle which being imported into Viet Nam.

Most recently, in the first two months of 2017, 384 tonnes of imported Indian peanuts were discovered to be contaminated.

The Vietnamese authority notified the corresponding agency in India, but since no corrective measures were taken, MARD decided to stop importing the said products, even as it continued to alert its Indian counterpart to find a comprehensive solution. — VNS