Europe is proposing to tighten the maximum allowable pesticide residues in pepper imported into this region.
The Vietnam Pepper Association (VPA) said that in 2017, the problem of pesticide residues will be much more carefully considered by the world market, especially in markets where Vietnamese pepper is currently being sold. good market share are the US and Europe.
For example, the problem of metalaxyl chemical residues on pepper imported into the EU. The VPA said that many years ago the maximum allowable amount (MRLs) of this chemical was 0.1ppm, but the European Commission EC is recommending the application of permissible MRLs of only 0.05ppm.
According to official information from the European Spices Association (ESA), in a letter to the VPA and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development at the end of January 2017, ESA analyzed 799 samples of black pepper imported into the EU in 2016. 17% of samples had the maximum allowable residue level below 0.05ppm.
If the situation of pepper production remains the same as in 2016, it means that in 2017, over 80% of Vietnam’s pepper will have little chance to enter the European market, which consumes approximately 40,000 tons. , accounting for 23% of Vietnam’s total pepper exports annually.
In addition, the US market, which has over 40,000 tons of pepper imported from Vietnam in recent years, is also preparing to issue a series of new regulations on the quality requirements of imported agricultural products, including seeds. pepper.
Accordingly, VPA identifies pepper quality as a vital issue of the industry, but the fact that there is a psychology of seeking high productivity to earn a high income at all costs of most pepper farmers has made the use of Excessive fertilizer use, pushing this plant into a state of unbalanced growth, susceptible to pests and diseases, and then rampant use of pesticides to “save” this billion-dollar asset.
“Only when the majority of pepper farmers realize the seriousness of that poorly understood farming problem, change their behavior, and cultivate according to GAP can the quality of pepper be improved and exported accordingly. can be sustainable”, the announcement of VPA said.
In 2016, pepper prices fluctuated strongly, but pepper exports reached the highest record ever. Export turnover reached 179,233 tons of pepper of all kinds with a value of 1.44 billion USD. This resulted in an increase of 34.3% in volume and 12.9% in value. The markets with a strong increase in export value are Pakistan (3.14 times), Philippines (3 times), the United States (31.3%), Egypt (23.2%), Spain (14 times), %) and India (12%).
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