Transparency and quality are among the top requirements when exporting agricultural and food products to the EU market. For detailed regulations and requirements for each product, exporters should consult the relevant authorities officially.
Transparency and quality are top priorities.
Speaking at the Conference on Disseminating Regulations and Commitments on Food Safety and Animal and Plant Quarantine in the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVAFTA), organized by the Vietnam SPS Office (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) in coordination with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Phu Yen province on June 14 in Phu Yen, Deputy Director of the Vietnam SPS Office Ngo Xuan Nam said that Vietnam has participated in 19 bilateral and multilateral trade agreements to date.
Among these, 16 agreements have been formally signed and 3 are currently under negotiation. Many are considered new-generation free trade agreements with numerous mandatory commitments. Vietnam must comply with many food safety and phytosanitary (SPS) regulations to meet the requirements of importing countries.
Each month, the Vietnam SPS Office receives approximately 100 notifications and drafts regarding changes to SPS measures, including drafts on changes to pesticide and veterinary drug residue levels, quarantine subjects, and regulations on materials in contact with products, etc.
Emphasizing the importance of updating and disseminating SPS regulations to management agencies, businesses, cooperatives, and farmers, the head of the Vietnam SPS Office stated: "SPS regulations are mandatory; violations will result in warnings from importing partners. This will negatively impact businesses, especially affecting the entire agricultural sector and the brand of Vietnamese agricultural products internationally."
According to Mr. Luong Ngoc Quang, a specialist in the International Cooperation and Communication Department (Plant Protection Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), transparency of information and quality are among the top requirements when exporting agricultural products and food to the EU market.
For the EU market, all shipments must meet the following requirements: the product must not be on the list of plants or plant products prohibited or temporarily suspended from import into EU countries; it must not be infected with EU phytosanitary pests and must be virtually free from other pests; and the wooden packaging materials must meet the international standard for wooden packaging materials (ISPM-15)...
"The EU is particularly concerned about fruit flies on fruit and vegetable products, so we have to negotiate a solution. In addition, for fresh fruit, cashews, coffee, etc., when exported to the EU, the EU requires that the goods meet the same standards and be equivalent to the standards currently applied in the EU," Mr. Quang said.
Recognizing the EU as one of Vietnam's key export markets for agricultural products, with its strict and scientific technical requirements, Mr. Nam emphasized: "Strictly complying with EU market requirements will be an opportunity to bring Vietnamese agricultural products into many potential markets around the world."
From a business perspective, Mr. Nam advises that for plant-based products, compliance with EU regulations should be further strengthened, especially regarding pesticide residue control, given that many EU maximum residue limits (MRLs) are very low.
Businesses must closely monitor and understand market demands.
Recently, the European Commission (EC) announced that it has removed Vietnamese instant noodles from the list of products subject to inspection at border crossings when imported into the EU.
Complying well with EU market requirements will create opportunities to bring Vietnamese agricultural products into many potential markets around the world . (MINH DANG)
Sharing his perspective from a business standpoint, Mr. Pham Trung Thanh, Head of External Relations at Acecook Vietnam JSC, stated that the EU's removal of controls on Vietnamese instant noodles is very good news for Vietnamese instant noodle manufacturers and exporters, as well as other businesses exporting to the EU market.
This reinforces the confidence of EU importers in Vietnamese agricultural and food products.
According to Mr. Ngo Xuan Nam, the lesson learned here is the need for effective and synchronized coordination between state management agencies and businesses in meeting the regulations and standards of the EU market.
Based on Acecook's experience, Mr. Thanh shared: "To meet EU import standards, businesses must closely follow market requirements. When participating in the EVFTA, tariff barriers are almost eliminated, but technical barriers must be faced."
Therefore, businesses must have a correct and thorough understanding. Notably, to meet the requirements, businesses need the support and coordination of state management agencies. In the EU market, even a small mistake by one business can cause significant difficulties for the entire industry."
Mr. Nam further informed that currently, the EU divides imported agricultural and food products into two categories: low-risk and high-risk. Low-risk products, based on assessments by the EU, do not require systematic border control. Conversely, high-risk products will require more stringent control measures.
"For detailed regulations for each product, exporters should officially consult the competent authorities or the Vietnam SPS Office for guidance," Mr. Nam emphasized.
Dan Thanh
Source : https://thanhnien.vn/he-lo-chia-khoa-but-toc-xuat-khau-nong-san-vao-eu-185240614121819415.htm
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