Vietnamese coffee is rushing to complete its traceability system ahead of the European Union's anti-deforestation regulations (EUDR).
On the morning of March 11, the Dak Lak Provincial People's Committee organized a coffee trade conference - one of the events of the 9th Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival - in which experts and businesses focused on analyzing challenges and solutions to the EU's anti-deforestation regulations.
Introducing qualified brands in the face of EUDR challenges to international experts and tourists - Photo: MINH PHUONG
Big challenge for Vietnamese coffee
According to Mr. Thai Nhu Hiep - Vice President of the Vietnam Coffee - Cocoa Association (VICOFA), one of the biggest challenges now is that the EUDR will take effect from 2026.
EUDR requires coffee exported to the EU to prove that it is not linked to deforestation after 31 December 2020.
Businesses are forced to invest in traceability systems, production monitoring and carbon emission reduction.
Mr. Thai Anh Tuan - General Director of 2-9 Coffee Company Limited (Simexco Dak Lak) - commented that meeting EUDR will increase production costs, while businesses have to worry about other standards from Japan and Korea on pesticide residues and carbon emissions.
Building EUDR compliant data
Ms. Vanusia Nogueira - Executive Director of the International Coffee Organization (ICO), speaking at the workshop - Photo: MINH PHUONG
Analyzing this further, Ms. Vanusia Nogueira - Executive Director of the International Coffee Organization (ICO), global coffee consumption is forecast to increase from 0.9-3.4%/year, equivalent to 8-30 million bags of coffee (60kg/bag).
However, the global coffee industry still faces many difficulties such as volatile prices, limited production land, the impact of climate change and especially strict legal regulations such as EUDR.
In response to the urgent request from EUDR, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has piloted a growing area data system in four districts: Krong Nang, Cu M'gar, Ea H'leo (Dak Lak) and Di Linh (Lam Dong).
By December 2024, 100% of coffee areas in these localities will be updated in the database system of growing areas and forests.
Mr. Nguyen Quoc Manh - Deputy Director of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection - said that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is finalizing a document guiding the use of the data system for businesses and farmers to meet the EUDR. "This is the basis for the coffee industry to maintain exports to the EU, and create a transparent foundation for sustainable development," Mr. Manh said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Trinh Duc Minh - Chairman of Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Association - said that it is necessary to promote coffee garden replanting, apply sustainable farming models and perfect the traceability system to meet EUDR.
"At the same time, developing specialty and organic coffee and deeply processed products such as premium instant coffee, tablets and cold brew is a direction to help increase export value and reduce dependence on the EU market," Mr. Minh shared.
What is EUDR?
From December 30, 2024, the European Union (EU) will apply the EU anti-deforestation regulation (EUDR), requiring coffee, rubber, wood, cocoa... exported to the EU to have traceable origin, not related to deforestation after December 31, 2020. Violating businesses will be fined up to 4% of revenue and removed from the EU market.
The EU then decided to extend the implementation of the EUDR by 12 months, postponing the application deadline for large enterprises to December 30, 2025, and for small enterprises to June 30, 2026. After this date, if enterprises exporting coffee, rubber, wood, etc. to the EU do not meet traceability requirements, they will be excluded from this important market.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ca-phe-viet-truoc-quy-dinh-phong-chong-pha-rung-cua-eu-20250311120203543.htm
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