Exporting agricultural products to the EU: Avoiding unnecessary risks

The EU is a key market for Vietnamese agricultural products, and experts recommend carefully studying market regulations to avoid unnecessary risks.

The EU is a key market for Vietnamese agricultural products.

According to the report by The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development estimated the export value of agricultural, forestry and fishery products in January 2024 at 5.08 billion USD, down 4.9% over the same period in 2024. The export value of Vietnam's agricultural, forestry and fishery products to the Americas, Asia, and Europe decreased. Of which, the export value to Europe reached 577 million USD, down 16.2%.

In 2024, exports of agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products reached a record value of 62.5 billion USD, an increase of 18.7% compared to 2023; of which, the EU market accounted for 11.3%.

Chili peppers are the most frequently flagged product in the EU. (Illustrative image)

The EU is the world's third largest market for agricultural, forestry, and fisheries products. Annually, the EU imports over $300 billion worth of these products. Vietnam's agricultural, forestry, and fisheries imports to the EU account for approximately 1.9% of the EU's total imports, ranking 11th among countries exporting agricultural, forestry, and fisheries products to the EU. The EU is also one of Vietnam's four largest export markets for agricultural, forestry, and fisheries products, after the United States, China, and ASEAN.

The EU is a region with a high level of spending on food consumption. Annually, the EU spends €1 trillion on food and beverages, accounting for 21.4% of total household spending (11.8% on food and beverages, 6.8% on catering services, 1.6% on alcoholic beverages, and 1.2% on non-alcoholic beverages).

Avoid unnecessary risks.

Nevertheless, food safety issues pose a difficult challenge for agricultural products exported to this market. Recently, the Vietnam National Notification and Inquiry Point on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Vietnam Office) sent Official Letter No. 27/SPS-BNNVN to the Import-Export Department ( Ministry of Industry and Trade ), and the associations of: Beer, Wine and Beverages of Vietnam, Coffee and Cocoa of Vietnam, Traditional Fish Sauce of Vietnam, and Cashew of Vietnam, informing them about warnings from the European Union's Food and Feed Safety System (EUFSS) regarding Vietnamese food exports due to violations of EU regulations, leading to product recalls by the EU.

Accordingly, the Vietnam SPS Office pointed out four reasons: businesses have not registered products containing ingredients from "new foods" in the EU market; businesses declare ingredients in products incorrectly, especially those that are likely to cause allergies; products contain illegal or excessive food additives; and businesses do not declare or carry out veterinary quarantine at border crossings for "mixed products" containing animal-derived ingredients.

Speaking with reporters According to the Industry and Trade Newspaper, Mr. Ngo Xuan Nam - Deputy Director of the SPS Vietnam Office - said that among these, regulations on "new foods" and "mixed products" are causing confusion for businesses.

According to Mr. Ngo Xuan Nam, "new food" is any food that was not used for significant human consumption in the European Union before May 15, 1997. Details are provided in Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. The list of new foods permitted is in Regulation (EU) 2018/1023.

Meanwhile, for "mixed products" containing animal-derived ingredients, the animal-derived materials must be from businesses on the list of companies permitted to export animal products to the EU.

According to Mr. Ngo Xuan Nam, businesses that make mistakes when exporting to demanding markets like the EU are often small and medium-sized enterprises. Conversely, large businesses, especially FDI companies, have dedicated technical departments that quickly adapt to changing market information.

Previously, there was information about increasingly stringent regulations on agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products exported to... EU market This information was also provided by the Vietnamese Trade Office in Sweden. Accordingly, the EU is applying stricter regulations on food safety and sustainability to minimize environmental impact and ensure product quality. The Nordic market, including Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, is known for its high quality requirements for agricultural products, posing challenges but also offering great opportunities for Vietnamese exporters.

New regulations affecting fresh produce include a reduction in pesticide residue levels. Accordingly, the EU requires imported produce to meet strict maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides. Some chemicals not permitted in the EU will be completely banned from imported products. Specifically, under Regulation 2023/915, the maximum cadmium residue limit has been reduced for fruits such as strawberries, citrus fruits, mangoes, bananas, and pineapples. Nordic supermarkets often have their own, stricter standards than EU regulations.

Besides, most agricultural products Fresh produce imported into the EU requires a phytosanitary certificate. This ensures that the product is free of pests. Some products, such as bananas, coconuts, dates, pineapples and durians, do not require this certificate. However, additional heat treatment of mangoes or similar measures is recommended to prevent fruit flies. The EU applies a higher rate of inspection to products from certain countries that have a high risk of chemical residues.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoang Thuy, Director and Head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Sweden, also responsible for the Nordic market, EU market In general, and Northern Europe in particular, have high requirements for the quality and traceability of agricultural products, requiring Vietnamese exporters to be well prepared and meet high standards. Accordingly, exporters need to ensure that their products do not exceed the permitted chemical residue level and meet the strict requirements of Northern European importers; ensure phytosanitary certification.

Another issue raised by Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoang Thuy is that products from Vietnam may fall into the high-risk category, leading to a higher inspection rate. Therefore, businesses need to improve quality control at the source, especially for agricultural products such as chili peppers, beans, and tropical fruits. Simultaneously, they should prepare complete documentation on production and inspection processes to promptly address any problems that may arise.

Strict adherence to EU regulations not only ensures products meet requirements but also builds credibility with Nordic customers. Therefore, businesses need to promote their commitments to quality and transparency in the supply chain. Connecting with major import partners in Nordic countries and participating in trade fairs will help expand their customer network.

Regarding the EU market, Mr. Ngo Xuan Nam stated that in recent years, information on SPS (Sustainable Pest Control) has been more widely received and disseminated, reaching almost all local departments and agencies, as well as associations and businesses. However, the lack of seamless information exchange makes violations more likely. In 2024 alone, Vietnam received 114 warnings from the EU, double the number in 2023. To avoid a recurrence, Mr. Ngo Xuan Nam suggested that relevant organizations, individuals, and businesses carefully study market regulations before exporting to avoid unnecessary risks.

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