To have an OCOP product is considered difficult, but to maintain, build and develop it into a commodity product, dominate the domestic market and reach out to the international market is many times more difficult. Therefore, the province has paid special attention to reviewing the products that have achieved the stars and the products participating in the cycle, resolutely eliminating OCOP products that do not ensure quality.
According to the report of the Provincial OCOP Steering Committee, from 2020 to the end of 2024, after reviewing products that have achieved 3-5 stars; 159 products are not guaranteed to participate in the program, of which 31 products achieved 3 stars, 5 products achieved 4 stars, and the remaining 123 products participated.
Up to now, the whole province has 393 OCOP products from 13 localities achieving 3-5 stars, (of which: 296 products achieved 3 stars; 93 products achieved 4 stars and 4 products achieved 5 stars). After being certified, OCOP products have met quality and food safety standards, suitable for needs and tastes, creating trust for consumers, qualified to enter supermarkets, modern distribution systems and have the opportunity to reach large markets.
However, according to regulations, OCOP product certification is only valid for 36 months from the date of the recognition decision. To continue using the OCOP product certification mark printed or affixed on the packaging and labels of products when circulating and consuming on the market, these products need to be re-evaluated and recognized by the competent authority.
Accordingly, in 2024, through review and inspection, there were 71 OCOP products with 3 stars or higher (including 29 products with 3-4 stars and 42 products participating in the OCOP Cycle) of 47 entities whose 36-month recognition period had expired. The reason is that some entities are in the process of changing their logos and brand identities, improving packaging and labels to suit their business strategies in the new period; some entities are no longer producing and trading that product but have switched to trading other products.
On the other hand, the OCOP products that have expired are mainly recognized since 2020 according to Decision No. 1048/QD-TTg, dated August 21, 2019 of the Prime Minister "on promulgating a set of criteria for evaluating and classifying products of the One Commune One Product program", while Decision No. 148/QD-TTg, issued by the Prime Minister on February 24, 2023 "On promulgating a set of criteria and procedures for evaluating and classifying products of the One Commune One Product program"; the new set of criteria has more content and standards. In particular, the 4-star OCOP product has some additional criteria on environment, intellectual property, and quality certification, which are difficult criteria and require a lot of time to implement. Meanwhile, most of the OCOP product producers in the province have small and medium production scale and weak economic potential, so investing and perfecting the process to meet the requirements is difficult.
In addition, provincial OCOP products that expire and are not re-certified will have their certification revoked. The entity is not allowed to use the OCOP trademark to print or paste on packaging for products when circulating and consuming on the market.
In order to not only remove difficulties for units, organizations and individuals directly involved in OCOP products, but also effectively implement the goal, the New Rural Coordination Office has directed departments and branches under the OCOP Steering Committee and localities to continue to guide and support entities to complete product development; prioritize support for entities after being recognized as OCOP with 3-star or higher, with small production scale, difficult to meet the market demand to continue to maintain, improve, enhance production capacity, ensure quantity, quality, gradually meet market demand. Conduct a review of raw material area planning, select traditional, typical products, indigenous products... to develop OCOP products.
To upgrade OCOP products from 3 stars to 4 stars, the entities must invest, improve production lines, processes, product packaging as well as upgrade packaging... to fully meet the conditions. To upgrade from 4 stars to 5 stars, it is necessary to build a stable raw material area, professional production, have a nationwide product distribution system and have products accepted by the world market.
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