Regarding the situation of Chinese potatoes being imported to Lam Dong province and labeled “Da Lat agricultural products” that Dan Viet reported in the article Investigating signs of labeling “Da Lat agricultural products” on Chinese potatoes, on September 6, the Economic Department of Da Lat City said that it had proposed that functional agencies closely monitor the business of imported agricultural products in the area.
Lam Dong Provincial Police inspected 8 vegetable and fruit trading locations and discovered many violations. Photo: Contributor.
According to the Economic Department of Da Lat City, the situation of imported agricultural products, mainly Chinese potatoes, being imported to Da Lat City to counterfeit Da Lat agricultural products appeared from 2012-2013. Da Lat City has directed the inspection and drastic handling of the above mentioned behavior.
In the period of 2017 – 2018, due to relatively high profits, Da Lat potato output was not enough to supply the market all year round, so some small traders continued to import imported potatoes for business. Da Lat City People’s Committee continued to direct the city’s departments to inspect, detect and strictly handle violations.
Chinese potatoes are mixed with red soil and then “magically” transformed into Dalat potatoes, sold at a higher price.
In 2018, Da Lat City authorities handled 3 cases of mixing soil into Chinese potatoes to “impersonate” Da Lat potatoes. Individuals were also fined for conducting business under the form of a business household without a business registration certificate as prescribed; goods fraud…
Mr. Nguyen Duc Cu – Head of the Economic Department of Da Lat City said that from 2018 to the present, imported potatoes in Da Lat have been strictly managed. For Da Lat agricultural markets, the authorities have strictly controlled input and output, absolutely not importing or trading in imported agricultural products. In addition, regular management has been strengthened, so the situation of counterfeiting Da Lat agricultural products in the area has been completely limited. Most of the warehouses have moved to do business in other districts and outside the province.
Da Lat City Police temporarily seized tons of potatoes while mixing with Da Lat red soil in 2018.
“There are still some small warehouses in the city (operating outside the Da Lat agricultural market) that import Chinese potatoes to meet the needs of customers outside the province in the months when Da Lat does not have potato production, with small quantities and frequencies. All shipments have valid invoices and documents, and samples taken by Da Lat City departments in coordination with the Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Product Quality Management (under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development) meet the requirements. Imported and exported goods do not change in shape, color, or product labels. There have been no cases of soil mixing or fake labeling as Da Lat potatoes,” informed Mr. Nguyen Duc Cu.
Faced with the above situation, the Economic Department of Da Lat City has proposed that the City People’s Committee continue to direct the strengthening of market management at the Da Lat Agricultural Market. Strictly control the process of importing and exporting goods into and out of the agricultural market, absolutely not allowing the situation of traders trading agricultural products originating from outside Da Lat – Lam Dong.
Tons of potatoes of unknown origin were discovered by authorities at businesses in Duc Trong and Don Duong districts. Photo: Contributor.
For wards and communes, strengthen the inspection and close supervision of agricultural product trading establishments in the area. In case of detecting the trading of imported agricultural products, inspect and handle according to authority or report to the City Economic Department for coordination in inspection and handling according to regulations.
In particular, the Economic Department of Da Lat City has proposed that the City People’s Committee direct the City Police to preside over and coordinate with the Economic Department and the Tax Department of Da Lat – Lac Duong area to strengthen inspection and strictly handle acts of trading imported agricultural products that are counterfeiting Da Lat agricultural products. At the same time, direct professional teams to regularly and proactively conduct reconnaissance to grasp the situation, detect and handle agricultural product trading establishments that violate regulations, counterfeit brands, and commit commercial fraud.