The "golden key" to preserving a brand.

Achieving OCOP standards is a journey, but maintaining the brand is an even more difficult task. Improving quality is the golden key to preserving the brand.

According to the assessment of the leaders of the Department of Industry and Trade of Vinh Phuc province: "In recent times, the 'One Commune One Product' (OCOP) program implemented in Vinh Phuc province has contributed to economic development, helping craft villages and businesses have opportunities to promote products, attract investment, and facilitate trade. However, some OCOP products are still of low quality, and the entities and businesses have not invested adequately or focused on these products..."

Through trade fairs and exhibitions, many entities and businesses have the opportunity to connect, trade, and promote their products. Photo: Thu Thủy

In February 2025, Vinh Phuc province removed 9 products from 7 entities from the provincial OCOP product list, including: Mota honey - fermented honey, My Nhan Hoang Cung (Royal Beauty) of Tam Dao Bee Joint Stock Company, Dao Duc town (Binh Xuyen);

The products include: Centella asiatica and Silybum marianum tea from Truong Anh Tuan household business, Ho Son commune (Tam Dao); seedless black grapes from Chan Chinh Clean Agriculture Co., Ltd., Vuong Xanh cantaloupe from Vuong Xanh Clean Agriculture Co., Ltd., Thanh Xuan cantaloupe from Thanh Xuan Agriculture & Trading Services Co., Ltd. (Yen Lac); 94 glutinous rice wine and 94 glutinous rice wine from Le Minh Huan household business, and Tien Sy's traditional snake balm from Nguyen Tien Sy household business (Vinh Tuong).

It is understood that the reason is that these products were evaluated and classified as meeting OCOP quality standards in 2021, but the certification has now expired and they did not participate in the re-evaluation and classification as required.

Furthermore, the inspection and monitoring of OCOP products after their recognition in the province has not received sufficient attention; many products have expired but have not participated in the re-evaluation and re-ranking process. Some products still use OCOP labels and star ratings on packaging that do not comply with regulations; the registration, evaluation, and recognition of OCOP products in some localities are still driven by a focus on achieving targets; and some products are of low quality...

In fact, over the past period, the Department of Industry and Trade and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vinh Phuc province have issued many documents guiding the People's Committees of districts and cities to implement the evaluation, classification, and recognition of OCOP program products, including regulations on re-evaluation and classification of products after the expiration of the term.

However, due to numerous difficulties and limitations such as the time-consuming and costly preparation of documents and procedures, and especially because most entities are small-scale household producers with limited consumer markets, they lack the courage to invest capital to meet the criteria for upgrading their product rating or are not enthusiastic about participating in the reassessment and reclassification process. Furthermore, while the Department of Industry and Trade has focused on promoting trade programs and creating opportunities for entities and businesses to advertise and improve product quality, the inspection and monitoring of OCOP products after recognition have not received adequate attention; some products are still of low quality...

Producers need to be more proactive and bolder in their investments.

According to the leaders of the Vinh Phuc Department of Industry and Trade : "The recognition of OCOP-certified products is the first step for businesses to establish their brands. However, the next step is for businesses to focus on improving product quality and not become complacent with the achieved title. With its state management function, the Department of Industry and Trade has carried out many activities to support businesses, especially regularly coordinating with relevant units to inspect and monitor the quality of OCOP products circulating in the market, and strictly handling violations related to counterfeit goods, substandard goods, and violations of OCOP trademark management regulations."

Many famous OCOP products from Vinh Phuc are displayed at Tay Thien Souvenirs, attracting a large number of tourists to visit and shop. Photo: Thu Thuy

In addition, districts and cities have intensified activities to support and guide OCOP businesses in order to improve their capacity in production and processing management, expand markets; improve product quality in accordance with regulations, standards, and food safety; build brands and intellectual property; protect the environment, etc., contributing to improving the quality and upgrading the star rating of OCOP products that have been evaluated and classified by competent authorities.

At the same time, improve the quality of OCOP product evaluation and classification, avoiding the pursuit of achievements at all costs that could affect the reputation and trust of consumers in OCOP products, and strengthen inspection and supervision activities for OCOP products that have been evaluated and recognized.

To improve the quality of OCOP products, not only is active involvement from all levels and sectors necessary, but production facilities and entities also need to be more proactive and bold in investing resources to be re-evaluated and recognized, as well as improving product quality, design, and packaging. This will build lasting consumer trust, help spread awareness, unleash the potential, advantages, and unique characteristics of localities, and serve as a "golden key" for businesses to unlock potential opportunities for healthy cooperation and competition in domestic and international markets.

Nguyen Tung Duong, Director of Tan Dai Duong Vinh Phuc Co., Ltd., shared: “As one of the first businesses in Vinh Phuc province to have OCOP products available abroad, we always focus on exploiting the strengths of local raw materials, producing many attractive, diverse, and high-quality products from Golden Flower Tea. Currently, the company has many products that are favored by consumers such as: Golden Flower Tea in filter bags, Freeze-dried Golden Flower Tea, Organic Brown Rice Milk Powder with Golden Flower Tea…”

As of February 2025, Vinh Phuc province had 178 OCOP products meeting provincial-level 3-star standards or higher, including 41 products meeting 4-star standards and 137 products meeting 3-star standards at the provincial level, belonging to 80 entities (cooperatives, businesses, and household businesses). To ensure that OCOP products maintain their brand, expand their reach in the market, and gain consumer trust, entities and businesses need to focus on investing in equipment, machinery, science and technology, and innovation.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/chat-luong-san-pham-ocop-chia-khoa-vang-giu-thuong-hieu-376009.html