Ministry of Agriculture dismisses and disciplines a series of officials

After a series of violations in granting fertilizer certification at the Southern Fertilizer Testing Center (Southern Regional Center) were exposed recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has just disciplined a series of leaders of the above Center.

Accordingly, Mr. Tran Quoc Tuan, Director of the Southern Fertilizer Testing Center (Southern Center), Deputy Director of the National Fertilizer Testing Center was dismissed and transferred to another job due to serious violations in performing assigned duties at the Southern Center.

In addition to Mr. Tuan, two other individuals involved are Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, Acting Head of the Department of Quality and Environment Management; and Mr. Truong Hop Tac, former Head of the Department of Land and Fertilizer Management, who were criticized, had their experience drawn, and were transferred to other jobs, unrelated to the fertilizer sector.

Southern Fertilizer Testing Center, where serious violations in fertilizer certification occurred, causing a stir in public opinion recently.

Southern Fertilizer Testing Center, where serious violations in fertilizer certification occurred, causing a stir in public opinion recently.

Previously, as Dan Tri reported, during the inspections at the end of May 2016, the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development discovered serious violations in the fertilizer certification activities of 11 units which were enterprises designated by the Department of Crop Production as testing and certification units but did not have sufficient functions, conditions and authority. In particular, the Inspectorate of the Ministry uncovered many serious and long-term violations that occurred at the Southern Regional Center and requested the police to intervene.

Specifically, in the granted licenses, the Southern Regional Center is only allowed to certify DAP fertilizers (mixed inorganic fertilizers) and phosphate fertilizers. However, in reality, the Center has certified 1,274 fertilizer products that are not DAP fertilizers, phosphate fertilizers and fertilizers outside the permitted list. According to the inspector of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, this is an intentional act of violating State regulations, certifying outside the assigned scope, causing serious consequences.

Violations in licensing management have led to "very serious" violations in fertilizer certification because this Center has certified testing and conformity certification for 496 products that are not on the list of regulations of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. At the same time, thousands of fertilizer products of 276 enterprises are not controlled in terms of quality, have incorrect licenses, and are sold widely in the market.

In addition to the decision to dismiss and transfer some leaders of the Center, the Department of Crop Production said that it will soon review and issue management regulations and operating regulations of its affiliated units to ensure the implementation of assigned tasks. At the same time, it will develop and submit to competent authorities to issue technical regulations on organic fertilizers and other fertilizers. A representative of the Department of Crop Production promised that in August, the Department will submit to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development technical regulations on organic fertilizers and other fertilizers.

According to Dan Tri