VietNamNet Bridge – Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat has ordered inspections on formaldehyde content in fresh fruit and vegetables.

The move came after Chinese mass media reported that their vegetable growers sprayed cabbages with formaldehyde to keep it fresh during long trips to the market.

Phat called on the Plan Protection Department to co-operate with the National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department in conducting the tests and report before May 20.

Nguyen Xuan Hong, head of the Plan Protection Department, said it would tighten inspections on fresh-fruit-and-vegetable quality at border gates in parallel with taking cabbage samples for tests of formaldehyde content.

Formaldehyde has been added to the list of chemicals that need checking for fresh fruit and vegetables imported to Viet Nam.
Formaldehyde is banned as a food preservative in Viet Nam.

The quality of all fresh fruit and vegetables on the market will come under inspection.

According to the department, cabbage imported from China is always checked at border gates.

In 2012, Viet Nam has imported hardly any cabbage from China through official channels.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News