In recent times, functional forces have continuously arrested and handled establishments and businesses producing and trading fake fertilizers.
However, fake fertilizers still appear on the market, causing damage to farmers and the agricultural industry. Therefore, there needs to be an effective solution to completely eliminate violations in the production and trading of fake fertilizers.
“Confusion” in the quality of agricultural materials
Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper on August 25, 2023 reported: Tay Ninh province authorities have just inspected and discovered agents trading fake fertilizers and poor quality plant protection drugs, with serious violations. important. Specifically: The authorities inspected Mr. Nguyen Phuc Thanh’s agricultural materials dealer (address at Tan Dung hamlet, Tan Ha commune, Tan Chau district, Tay Ninh) and discovered the act of trading high quality fertilizers. The quantity does not comply with the corresponding technical regulations (poor quality fertilizer) with a total value of goods of 22 million VND.
Accordingly, the authorities fined agricultural materials dealer Nguyen Phuc Thanh 7.5 million VND for the following acts: Trading in fertilizers whose quality does not conform to corresponding technical regulations (poor quality). . Additional fine of more than 27 million VND for: Consuming goods whose quality does not conform to corresponding technical regulations. The total amount of money that Agricultural Materials Agent Nguyen Phuc Thanh must pay into the state budget is 35 million VND.
Previously, on August 9, 2023, Tuoi Tre Capital Electronic Newspaper reported that authorities of Quang Ngai province conducted an inspection of Tuyet Nhung store (address at TDP4, Nguyen Nghiem ward, Duc Pho town). Here, the authorities conducted random sampling to test the quality of NPK 20-20-15 fertilizer produced by Binh Minh Trading Production Company Limited (headquartered at 45/39, Street 10, KP3, Tan Quy Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City) provided.
Through analysis results, the above product has a Nitrogen content that is not consistent with national technical standards on quality (the product sample has a Nitrogen content of only 86% of the standard). With this violation, Tuyet Nhung business household was fined for two violations: “Trading 550kg of NPK 20-20-15 fertilizer whose quality does not conform to national technical regulations on fertilizer quality.” fertilizer and consumption of violating goods worth nearly 3 million VND.”
The production and sale of counterfeit goods in general and fertilizers in particular causes a lot of frustration among people. Many opinions condemn and believe that this violation must be criminally handled, but an administrative fine of tens of millions of dong is not enough of a deterrent. According to reader Huynh Trung’s opinion, quoted by Thanh Nien Newspaper on February 1, 2023: “Personally, I think it is necessary to imprison those who commit acts of producing and trading counterfeit goods. It creates super profits, but the damage to people is not small. If fines are imposed at the current level, it will do nothing, and how can it be a deterrent?”
Sharing the same opinion, reader Manh Nguyen wrote: “This is a form of fraud that people must pay attention to. Today’s market is for profit, so many people are willing to produce fake and poor quality goods to profit. Is it fun to earn money from the sweat and efforts of hard-working people? The authorities must handle them strictly, even imprison them, so they know what to fear.”
Many difficulties in managing agricultural materials
Vietnam Economic Magazine No. 37/2023, released on September 11, quoted Mr. Pham Tuan Anh, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Dak Nong province, saying that the majority of agricultural material businesses Operating in the form of households, many businesses do not have signs or semi-fixed locations, so inspection and handling are very difficult.
Meanwhile, sanctions for violations in the production and trading of agricultural materials are still light and not enough to deter. The application of standards and technical regulations on agricultural materials in actual production and management is not much. Human resources, facilities, equipment and funding for agricultural materials management have not been given due attention.
“This leads to the situation of fake, poor quality, expired agricultural materials, violating labels, the use of chemicals and growth stimulants exceeding the allowed level still occurs, it is very difficult to stop,” Mr. Pham Tuan Anh shared.
Many experts and managers also point out that, currently, the responsibility for managing agricultural materials between agencies is not clearly and uniformly regulated in a specific legal document, but is located in many documents. copies, leading to difficulties in performing tasks…
Previously, on February 8, 2023, VTV News quoted Mr. Truong Van Nhuong, Deputy Director of the Market Management Department of Dak Lak province: “We must coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in the area, which has sampling function, we cannot be proactive. Second, the 389th Interdisciplinary Inspection Team currently has no written regulations on the order and legal framework for the team’s activities, so the legal risk is very high.”
According to Mr. Nhuong, the management and control of the fertilizer market still faces difficulties and limitations because sanctions for violations of production and business are still light and not enough to deter, so the situation exists. There are still many violations. Furthermore, due to people’s habit of buying without receiving invoices, when they discover they have purchased poor quality fertilizer, the authorities do not know what to base their actions on.
Needs to be thoroughly treated
To solve the situation of fake and poor quality fertilizers causing heavy losses to farmers and the Agriculture sector, a cooperation agreement between the General Department of Market Management (Ministry of Industry and Trade) and the Plant Protection Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) Agriculture and Rural Development) on inspection, control, detection, combat, prevention and handling of violations of the law in the production and trading of fertilizers and pesticides have been signed and signed. take effect.
According to the regulations, the two sides will exchange and provide information to fight against fake fertilizers and pesticides that do not ensure quality on the market; Coordinate and support the professional units of both sides in inspecting and handling violations in production, import, business, and use of fertilizers and pesticides…
According to forecasts of the Vietnam Fertilizer Association, in the coming time, fertilizer prices tend to continue to remain high, therefore, relevant departments need to have effective solutions to eliminate root of the violation. There needs to be a policy to regulate fertilizer prices and support farmers. People should also look to buy agricultural input products with clear invoices and documents, and not use floating goods to avoid buying poor quality goods.
To best adapt to the current context, the Department of Crop Production (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) recommends that people promote the use of organic fertilizers to partially replace inorganic fertilizers; Apply modern technology to reduce the amount of fertilizer used per crop. This will help reduce fertilizer costs in agricultural production, while moving towards greener and cleaner production.
>> Fake fertilizer and real pain
