HCM CITY — HCM City authorities on Tuesday destroyed nearly 22 tonnes of fake or substandard fertiliser without labels of origin worth VNĐ300 million (US$13,000).

The fertilisers were confiscated by the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Market Management Department at the manufacturers’ factories in the city last November.

The companies include the Asia Corporation, Kiến Vàng Feriliser Company Ltd, and Song Nam Investment Development Company Ltd.  

In March, the department inspected 12 fertiliser manufacturers in the city and discovered many violations.

Violations included sales of fertiliser products without origin, and labels failing to either present correct information or give sufficient information on the products, among others.

In addition, the department also fined two companies VNĐ4.6 million ($200) for improperly storing fertiliser by placing it on the ground instead of on shelves.

The Market Management Department has handled more than 3,000 cases of fertiliser violations annually, seizing over 1,000 tonnes of fake or substandard fertiliser.

The agency said the actual number may be much higher.

According to the Việt Nam Fertiliser Association, the country’s economy loses $2 billion every year from the use of fake fertilisers.

As fertilisers account for 50 per cent of input costs in agriculture and play a crucial role in crop yield and quality, fake fertiliser use affects farmers and legitimate businesses.

Experts said that manufacturers of fake fertiliser employed various methods to cheat customers, including the use of formulas that differ from what is printed on the package and imitation of established brands.

Nguyễn Văn Việt, chief inspector at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that fake fertiliser and the use of banned chemicals in animal husbandry posed major challenges in the agricultural sector.

The ministry plans to increase the frequency of unannounced inspections throughout the year in a bid to crack down on violations, he said. — VNS