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“Magic” trade “conjures” Dalat potatoes from China
Government agencies inspected and suspended five establishments in Dalat on September 11 that were passing off potatoes from China as local produce.
A group of inspectors from several ministries raided potato-trading establishments in Dalat on September 10 and 11. According to Phan Van Tuyen of the Lam Dong province’s Market Management Office, the inspectors discovered potatoes sourced from China mixed together with Dalat potatoes at the fruit wholesale market.
Dalat potatoes sell for between 14,000 and 20,000 dong per kilo.
Tuyen said that some 10 tons of potatoes were confiscated and five trading establishments prohibited from doing business until concerned agencies can clarify the origin of the products, the legitimacy of the imports, the prices of the produce and activities relating to “preliminary treatment” and wholesale.
“Preliminary treatment” means cleaning and then coating them with the red soil of Dalat to transform lower-quality Chinese potatoes into Dalat potatoes.
The inspectors received information that shipments of Chinese potatoes were being carried to from Lao Cai to Dalat for “preliminary treatment.” Afterwards, the potatoes would be packed and carried to the HCM City area for sale.
Though Government agencies have just discovered this practice, according to local merchants, the “magic” of turning China’s potatoes into Dalat’s has been going on for many years now, especially during the rainy season when the Dalat potato supply is short.
Lam Dong Market Management Office Deputy Director Nguyen Kien Thiet disclosed that inspections will be expanded in the next several days to investigate many other establishments in Dalat and Duc Trong district.
Deputy Director Phan Van Da of the Lam Dong Trade Department stated that if the potato brokers cannot present official documents that verify the confiscated potatoes to be of local origin, they will be fined. If necessary, the potatoes will be destroyed.
VietNamNet, TT
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