Exporting to Europe faces difficulties due to lack of food safety certification

The locality said that there is no specific transfer process so it has not been signed. It has been more than 20 days since the export has been completed, and businesses have had to wait to submit their documents even though they have sent petitions to all levels.

Processing dragon fruit for export - Photo: T.PHUONG

Speaking to Tuoi Tre on July 19, Mr. Huynh Canh, chairman of the Binh Thuan Dragon Fruit Association (new Lam Dong province), said that in recent days, dragon fruit exports by businesses to Europe have been blocked due to the lack of food safety certificates according to the regulations of this market.

Specifically, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development previously issued food safety certificates for exported plant-based products. However, under the new regulations, this procedure is transferred to the locality.

In the case of exporting to Europe, most of the inspections are done by businesses in Ho Chi Minh City, which means the agency responsible for issuing certificates for exporting to Europe according to the new regulations is the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety.

But now, after posting the information, businesses still have to wait. Local authorities said that there is no specific transfer process so they have not signed. They keep pushing, for more than 20 days now they have not been able to export, businesses have to wait even though they have sent petitions to all levels.

"Dragon fruit exported to Europe is of good quality, has a high price and can only be stored in cold storage for about 15 days. Long waiting times can easily lead to spoilage. Not to mention, Europe warns that if we do not export soon, we will find another supplier to replace us, and Vietnam risks losing its market. Businesses do not buy, and people also face difficulties because they do not dare to produce," Mr. Canh noted.

Similarly, the director of an export company in Ho Chi Minh City said that previously a company had tested and issued a certificate. Then, Europe was not satisfied after discovering many substandard shipments, so since the end of June, it has requested that the state agency be responsible for issuing this certificate.

In addition to dragon fruit, many businesses said that some agricultural products exported to Europe such as pepper, chili... are also facing this situation. According to the Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association, many export shipments of spice production and export businesses are currently stalled. The reason is that they are having difficulty in obtaining food safety certificates for exported plant-based products as required by import markets, especially Europe.

NGUYEN TRI

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/xuat-khau-di-chau-au-gap-kho-vi-thieu-chung-nhan-an-toan-thuc-pham-20250720075304139.htm