The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has written to plant quarantine subdepartments, enterprises exporting farm produce to Malaysia and related individuals and organizations announcing Malaysia’s suspension of imports of Vietnamese chilies from September 14, reported the local media.

Farmers are seen picking chili on a farm. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Malaysia has suspended Vietnamese chili imports

The Malaysian Inspection and Quarantine Agency had recently detected plant protection drug residue exceeding the neighboring country’s permissible level in Vietnam’s chili shipments, leading to the suspension.

Malaysia’s decision will affect Vietnam’s chili consumption in the coming days as Malaysia, South Korea and China are the three largest chili buyers of the country.

As such, the Plant Protection Department under the ministry has requested Vietnamese chili exporters research and comply with Malaysia’s regulations on food safety to avoid damage to the economy and prestige of Vietnamese farm produce.

Enterprises were also asked to review and closely supervise their manufacturing, collection and export processes to prevent shortcomings in the initial stages.

Malaysia officially started importing Vietnamese chilies to serve its domestic market in 2016.

Saigon Times