Strengthening traceability, ensuring the quality of exported agricultural, forestry and fishery products

The Prime Minister requested provinces and centrally run cities to proactively review and propose support mechanisms for localities in establishing and implementing a system to trace the origin of agricultural, forestry and fishery products.

Classifying and processing tuna products for export. (Photo: Vu Sinh-VNA)

On August 29, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed and issued Official Dispatch No. 150-CD-TTg on enhancing traceability, ensuring the quality and reputation of exported Vietnamese agricultural, forestry and fishery products.

The dispatch stated: Vietnam's agriculture has now deeply integrated into the world with an annual growth rate of added value reaching about 5-7%; export turnover of goods has increased sharply with 11 groups of goods having export turnover reaching over 1 billion USD; in the first 6 months of 2025 alone, the total export value is estimated to reach 33.5 billion USD.

However, recently, according to reports from ministries, sectors, press agencies and information from importing countries, there have been shipments of agricultural, forestry and fishery products from Vietnam that have been warned by competent authorities of the European Union (EU) for violating EU food safety regulations.

Implement food safety control processes throughout the production chain

To strengthen the work of ensuring the origin of goods, traceability, quality assurance and reputation of Vietnamese agricultural, forestry and fishery products exported to European countries and the world, the Prime Minister requested the Minister of Agriculture and Environment to preside over and coordinate with relevant agencies to direct the immediate implementation of measures to trace the origin, overcome warnings and notify the Directorate General for Health and Food Safety - European Commission for cases that are warned according to the regulations of the RASFF system.

Along with that, promulgate and deploy food safety control procedures in the entire production chain of agricultural and livestock products, including control of export products in general and exports to the EU market in particular, focusing on monitoring the use of pesticides, antibiotics, and food additives, to be completed by 2025.

The Prime Minister requested to review and complete programs and documents to organize specialized training for each industry chain for relevant subjects on production, harvesting, preliminary processing, processing, and preservation of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products to ensure safety and quality, meet regulations on food safety, traceability, and import market regulations, to be completed in the third quarter of 2025.

At the same time, review, research and propose appropriate and effective mechanisms and policies for the production, trade and use of plant protection drugs and biological veterinary drugs. Evaluate the results of the implementation of the "Pilot project to build a standard agricultural and forestry raw material area for domestic consumption and export in the period 2022-2025"; on that basis, review and expand large-scale, concentrated agricultural, forestry and fishery raw material areas that meet standards and regulations on traceability, to be completed in September 2025.

In addition, direct and coordinate the construction and operation of the traceability system and the database of the supply chain of agricultural, forestry and fishery products; promptly submit to competent authorities to determine and prescribe the implementation roadmap for groups of products and goods with high risk levels, requiring traceability according to the Law on Product and Goods Quality (amended), as soon as the Law comes into effect. Strengthen supervision and inspection of the implementation of regulations on traceability and food safety inspection in farming and growing areas, preliminary processing, processing, packaging and imported food facilities according to the provisions of the Law on Food Safety.

Research proposes a quick and convenient customs clearance mechanism for businesses

The Prime Minister requested the Minister of Industry and Trade to preside over and coordinate with relevant agencies to implement measures to trace the origin and overcome warnings; strengthen supervision and trace the origin of products with high risk of violations under the management of the Ministry, to be completed by August 2025.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade directs the trade office system in Europe and other countries to promptly grasp and assess warnings and changes in regulations of countries importing agricultural, forestry and fishery products and coordinate policy advocacy to protect the maximum interests of businesses. At the same time, actively implement trade promotion activities, support access to new export markets for Vietnamese agricultural, forestry and fishery products.

The Minister of Finance shall preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and relevant agencies to direct the Customs Department to study and propose a mechanism for quick and convenient customs clearance for businesses, and strengthen inspection of agricultural, forestry and fishery import and export activities, to be completed by September 2025.

Coffee harvest. (Photo: Vu Sinh-VNA)

Research and propose breakthrough policies to support and promote economic sectors to invest in agriculture in general and in the field of processing and preserving agricultural, forestry and fishery products in particular, urgently submit to the Government for promulgation a Decree replacing Decree No. 57-2018-ND-CP dated April 17, 2018 of the Government on mechanisms and policies to encourage enterprises to invest in agriculture and rural areas, in which pay attention to closely following Resolution No. 68-NQ-TW of the Politburo on private economic development; support the implementation of research and application of high technology and clean technology in production, processing and preservation.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs presides over and coordinates with relevant agencies to promote bilateral cooperation, effectively exploit and further deepen the comprehensive cooperation and partnership with the EU; continue to connect international cooperation and attract resources to serve agricultural development in a modern and sustainable direction, to support the agricultural sector in international integration and promote and enhance its role in multilateral cooperation mechanisms.

The Minister of Science and Technology shall preside over and coordinate with relevant agencies to regularly update and direct the completion of the system of standards and regulations on the quality of agricultural, forestry and fishery products in the direction of harmonization and integration with international standards. Direct the acceleration of technology application and digital transformation in quality management and traceability of products and goods according to the provisions of the Law on Product and Goods Quality (amended) as soon as the Law comes into effect.

Prevent and handle violations of chemical residues

The Prime Minister requested the Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities to urgently direct the thorough remediation of the EU Inspection Team's recommendations on pesticide residues in plant-based products in Vietnam from June 10-20, 2025, especially Tien Giang (now Dong Thap), Binh Thuan (now Lam Dong), and Ho Chi Minh City, which are localities with many agricultural product shipments being warned; to strengthen the traceability of exported aquatic products originating from exploitation to ensure that the products do not violate IUU exploitation.

Timely and smoothly deploy the tasks assigned by the Government in the following Decrees: Decree No. 131-2025-ND-CP dated June 12, 2025 of the Government stipulating the division of authority of local authorities at two levels in the field of state management of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment; Decree No. 136-2025-ND-CP dated June 12, 2025 stipulating decentralization and delegation in the field of agriculture and environment; Decree No. 146-2025-ND-CP dated June 12, 2025 stipulating decentralization and delegation in the field of industry and trade; Decree No. 148-2025-ND-CP dated June 12, 2025 stipulating decentralization and delegation in the field of health; ensuring continuous operation and control throughout the entire chain of production, preliminary processing, processing, export and traceability of food products.

Provinces and cities must immediately deploy measures to prevent and handle violations of chemical residues (pesticides and veterinary drugs) and trace and handle them at the root.

For the seafood chain: Strengthen inspection and organize traceability to strictly handle establishments that produce, import, and trade aquatic veterinary drugs that trade in prohibited products, products not on the list of products allowed for circulation, and aquaculture facilities that are determined to violate regulations on the use of veterinary drugs, chemicals, and antibiotics in aquaculture.

For the crop and plant cultivation chain: Strengthen inspection and strictly handle violations according to the provisions of law for growing areas and packaging facilities using chemicals not on the list of permitted chemicals, banned chemicals, and cases of non-compliance with the requirements of the importing country, and non-compliance with traceability regulations.

For production and business chains related to livestock farming: Immediately deploy measures to prevent and handle violations when facilities using banned chemicals and antibiotics have been identified; establish controls along the production, preliminary processing, processing, and export chains to meet the regulations of markets, including the EU.

The Prime Minister requested provinces and centrally run cities to proactively review and propose support mechanisms for localities in establishing and implementing a system to trace the origin of agricultural, forestry and fishery products.

The Presidents of the Associations of Production, Processing and Export of Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Products shall increase the updating and monitoring of information on the regulations of the importing countries of agricultural, forestry and fishery products to disseminate, guide and encourage members to produce, process and consume products that ensure quality and safety. Mobilize and encourage members to participate in implementing production, supply, consumption and export chains of agricultural, forestry and fishery products; especially prioritize the establishment of production, processing and export chains that meet the regulations of the EU market.

Actively coordinate with state agencies in: investigating causes and handling warnings of violations of food safety regulations; negotiating and removing barriers in exporting agricultural, forestry and fishery products; developing and amending domestic regulations in accordance with export market regulations.

In addition to maintaining traditional markets and customers, proactively seek to expand export markets for agricultural, forestry and fishery products, and take advantage of signed free trade agreements to increase the value of the industry.

The Prime Minister assigned Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son to direct the implementation, urge and handle difficulties in the implementation of this Official Dispatch.

The Government Office, according to its assigned functions and tasks, shall monitor and urge the implementation of this Official Dispatch and report to the Prime Minister on issues beyond its authority.-.

Source: VNA

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/tin-moi/202508/tang-cuong-truy-xuat-nguon-goc-dam-bao-chat-luong-nong-lam-thuy-san-xuat-khau-bc31534/