Dried Chili

Exported dried chili peppers have been a product that brings great revenue to Vietnam’s agricultural industry. Exporting dried chili peppers instead of fresh chili peppers will help businesses save significant costs during the transportation process. Nevertheless, what standards do dried chili peppers need to meet when exported? Let’s find out details in the article below.

Potential of exported dried chili

Dried chili is another product of fresh chili that has been drained of water to generate longer preservation duration. Dried chili still retains a certain amount of nutrients. Therefore dried chili has been a product imported by many countries such as South Korea, China, India…

According to statistics, in 2023 dried chili exports will reach 20 million USD, equivalent to 10,173 tons, an increase of 107% compared to the previous year. In Vietnam, chili peppers are most grown in the provinces of Dong Thap, An Giang, Tien Giang, Soc Trang, Vinh Long, and Tra Vinh with a total area of 7,000 hectares for an output of about 100,000 tons a year.

As a country with a large growing area, exporting dried chili to the international market will help farmers have higher income in the agricultural industry. So what is required when exporting this product to the international market?

What standards do dried chili exports need to meet?

Below are the required standards for exported dried chili. All this information is extracted from TCVN 2080: 2007 of the Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality, Ministry of Science and Technology.

Types of chili peppers used:

• Chili peppers and capsicum peppers, whole or ground (powder form).
• The two species of Capsicum are capsicum annuum L. and C.frutescens L., and also their subspecies C.chinense, C.pubescens and C.pendulum.
• Does not apply to chili powder and paprika.

The requirements do not have specific regulations, depending on the agreement of the importing party, including:

• Size, shape and color of dried chili.
• Spicy level (capsaicinoid content or Scoville index).
• The size of chili powder (normally the maximum particle size is 500 micrometers).

The smell and taste of chili

• Whole or ground dried chili peppers have a characteristic spicy taste, causing a burning sensation in the nose.
• The scent must be typical of chili peppers, creating a lasting hot and spicy scent.

No insects or mold are allowed

• There must be no live insects or mold.
• There must be no dead insects, insect fragments and rodents visible to the naked eye.
• When you see abnormalities, in specific cases, you can magnify up to 10 times for inspection and reporting.
• In case of dispute, the contaminant shall be determined using the method specified in ISO 1208.

Impurities

Impurities include:

• Substances present in the sample that are not dried chili peppers need to be considered.
• Other impurities such as: stems, leaves, soil and sand.
• Foreign matter does not include immature fruit, blemished fruit or broken fruit of the varieties under consideration.

The percentage of impurities must not exceed 1% by weight.

Immature fruit, damaged fruit and broken fruit

• In whole dried chili peppers, the proportion of young or blemished fruits (black or dark spots) must not exceed 2% (m/m).
• The proportion of broken fruit and corresponding fragments must not exceed 5% (by weight).

Chemical requirements

Whole dried chili and ground chili must conform to the requirements in the table below:

Packaging and labeling

Packaging:

• Products must be packaged in clean, intact packaging. The packaging is made of non-toxic materials affecting the product. Packaging must protect the product from moisture absorption or loss of moisture, volatile substances.
• Packaging must also comply with national laws relating to environmental protection.

Labeling:

Label directly or attach to each package, ensuring complete content:

• Product name and trade name (if any).
• Name and address of the manufacturer or packager and trademark (if any).
• Code or batch number.
• Net weight.
• Manufacturing country.
• All other information is required by the buyer, harvest year and packaging date (if known).
• Cite applicable quality standards.

Recommendations for storage and transportation

• Packages of dried and ground chili products must be stored indoors under cover, away from sunlight, rain and excessive heat.
• The storage warehouse must be dry, free of unpleasant odors, and avoid the intrusion of insects and other pests.
• Air circulation must be regulated so that it circulates well in dry weather and is completely sealed in wet conditions.
• There must be suitable conditions for sterilization of storage warehouses.
• Packages must be stored and transported in such a way as to protect them from rain, sun or sources of excessive heat, unpleasant odors and other contaminants (especially in ship drilling).

Currently, Viet Linh has been a supplier of dried chili for export. Customers who are looking for a source of Vietnamese standardized dried chili products, please contact Viet Linh for the best support.

• Address: LK07-C14 Ministry of National Defense, Bui Xuong Trach Street, Hoang Mai District, Hanoi, Vietnam
• Phone: 0345.128.188
• Fax: (0243).2099.006
• Email: sales@vietlinhagrimex.vn