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Low fines can’t keep bad fertiliser out of local market
Producers continue to manufacture substandard fertilisers because the fines for violators are too low, an official of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has said.
A company’s earnings from these fertilisers is often in the billions of Vietnamese dong, while the maximum fine is VND50-100 million (US$2,800-5,600).
MARD said it would begin to inspect fertiliser manufacturers nationwide and set up clear guidelines to help authorities deal with the violations.
The Viet Nam Fertiliser Association (VFA) has also petitioned the Government to impose stricter fines on violators.
The VFA said production of substandard fertilisers fell by 7 per cent for the first six months of the year against last year.
However, more than 40 per cent of fertiliser on the market remain substandard.
According to a recent investigation conducted by MARD in Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta provinces, 110 out of 270 fertiliser samples failed the quality test.
Other violations included expired products, fake labels, unquoted sale prices, and no business registration certificates.
The provinces of Vinh Long, Long An, An Giang and Tien Giang had the highest rate of substandard fertilisers.
Local producers are unable to meet the increasing demand for fertilisers, creating opportunities for substandard, unauthorised producers.
The use of low quality fertilisers has affected farmers’ incomes, agricultural output and product quality, and has contributed to pollution.
Many fertiliser producers cut back on some product ingredients because they were not allowed to raise their prices last year, the VFA said.
vietnamnews
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