Reports from France indicate that the rate of pesticide residue violations in Vietnamese passion fruit reached 32%, and in dragon fruit 11%, directly threatening export reputation.
Passion fruit and dragon fruit exported from Vietnam are facing the risk of increased border controls by the European Union (EU). According to the report "Results of monitoring and control of pesticide residues" published by the French Directorate General for Food Safety (DGAL) in February 2026, many agricultural product samples from Vietnam revealed food safety risks (SPS).
Alarming rate of residue violations in passion fruit and dragon fruit.
Data from the 2024 inspection revealed that passion fruit had very high levels of violations of the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL). Specifically, out of 47 samples tested, 15 failed to meet the standards, equivalent to a violation rate of 32%. Notably, authorities also detected the presence of omethoate, a substance that poses a potential health risk to consumers.
For dragon fruit, the recorded violation rate was 11% (1 out of 9 samples tested). Although this rate is lower than passion fruit, Vietnamese dragon fruit is now listed in Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 with a border inspection frequency of up to 50%. The continued occurrence of violations makes it unlikely that the level of control for this product will be reduced in the near future.
| Item | MRL violation rate | Current control status |
|---|---|---|
| passion fruit | 32% | Risk of inclusion in Appendix I or II |
| Dragon fruit | 11% | Appendix I (50% Inspection Frequency) |
Consequences of tightening technical barriers.
According to EU regulations, the European Commission conducts a review of the list of high-risk goods every six months. With negative monitoring results, Vietnamese passion fruit is facing two scenarios of strict control:
- Appendix I: Increased frequency of inspections at border crossings, causing delays in customs clearance.
- Appendix II: Mandatory requirement to include test results and food safety certificates with shipments before export.
Furthermore, these measures will directly increase logistics costs, testing fees, and warehousing costs for businesses. More importantly, being labeled as high-risk will seriously damage the reputation of Vietnamese agricultural products throughout the EU market, not just in France.
Recommendations for maintaining a sustainable supply chain.
To protect market share and access to the European market, export businesses and cooperatives urgently need to review the entire value chain from production and harvesting to packaging. Strict control of pesticide use and compliance with EU MRLs are mandatory requirements.
Furthermore, regulatory bodies and industry associations need to strengthen early warning systems and technical support. With the EU planning further reviews in the second half of 2026, the proactive adaptation of businesses will determine the future of these two key agricultural products in the international market.