The "key" to help Vietnam open the door to exporting agricultural products to the EU

On June 18, in Thai Binh province, the Vietnam SPS Office (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) coordinated with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Thai Binh province to organize a conference to disseminate regulations and commitments on food safety and animal and plant quarantine in the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the European Union.

Mr. Ngo Xuan Nam, Deputy Director of the Vietnam SPS Office, said that the conference aimed to provide timely information to Vietnamese management agencies and enterprises about new points related to regulations on food safety and animal and plant quarantine when exporting agricultural products and food to markets of member countries in the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the European Union (EVFTA).

In addition, disseminate technical requirements from markets importing agricultural and aquatic products from Vietnam in the new situation, and propose appropriate solutions to effectively implement EVFTA.

Mr. Ngo Xuan Nam, Deputy Director of the Vietnam SPS Office, said that compliance with food safety and animal and plant quarantine measures is considered the "key" to open the door to exporting Vietnamese agricultural products to the EU market. Photo: Minh Ngoc

According to Mr. Nam, to minimize the risk of increased inspection frequency and even temporary suspension of imports of some agricultural products and foods imported into this market, businesses need to update, comply with and correctly understand the regulations on food safety and animal and plant disease safety; related regulations of the EU market, especially the strengthening of microbiological control, control of maximum residue levels of pesticides (MRL), control of antibiotics and food additives. Because these are mandatory regulations.

More importantly, it is the reputation of Vietnamese agricultural products in the international market. Because the EU is one of the key export markets for Vietnamese agricultural products. This is also one of the markets with many strict and scientific requirements in terms of technology. If we comply with the requirements of the EU market, it will be an opportunity to bring Vietnamese agricultural products to many potential markets in the world when Vietnam has participated in 19 bilateral and multilateral FTAs, of which 16 FTAs ​​are effective with most of the major economies in the world.

"Compliance with food safety measures and animal and plant quarantine is considered the "key" to open the door to exporting Vietnamese agricultural products to the EU market as well as other countries around the world," Mr. Nam affirmed.

The conference attracted the participation of businesses, cooperatives, industry associations and farming households producing, processing, importing and exporting agricultural products in Thai Binh, Hai Duong, Hung Yen provinces... Photo: Minh Ngoc

Mr. Luong Ngoc Quang, an expert from the Department of International Cooperation and Communications (Plant Protection Department - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) said that when participating in the international plant protection convention, we must apply plant quarantine management and food hygiene and safety.

For the EU market, all shipments must meet the requirements that the product must not be on the list of plants and plant products prohibited or suspended from import into EU countries; not be contaminated with EU plant quarantine objects and almost not be contaminated with other pests; must have a Phytosanitary Certificate; wood packaging materials must meet the international standard for wood packaging materials (ISPM-15).

"The EU is particularly concerned about fruit flies on fruit and vegetable products, so it is necessary to negotiate a treatment plan. In addition, fresh fruit products, cashew nuts, coffee... when exported to the EU are required to have the same or equivalent standards as the standards currently applied in the EU," said Mr. Quang.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Huyen, SPS Vietnam Office Specialist, presented a report on regulations for importing synthetic products into the EU market. Photo: Minh Ngoc

In addition to complying with food safety and animal and plant quarantine measures, enterprises exporting agricultural products to the EU market must also comply with regulations on labeling and packaging of agricultural products.

Mr. Hoang Cong Duy, an expert from the Vietnam TBT Office (Ministry of Science and Technology), said that export packaging - a seemingly simple but extremely complex factor to comply with European law. They must be suitable in terms of weight, safe for consumers' health and the environment, for example, made from wood or plants that may require phytosanitary measures. At the same time, the label of packaged products must contain important information for consumers.

Packaged products must be sufficiently informative for customs authorities and the end consumer. Currently, retail packaged products are allowed to be labelled as having an “outside EU” origin. Country of origin labelling is currently under discussion by the EC and a new proposal is being developed for a more precise definition of origin. The new proposal seeks to list the country of origin for dried fruit and nuts, or more countries in the case of mixed products.

Also at the conference, Mr. Le Ha Hai, Head of International Cooperation Department - Institute of Agricultural Mechanics and Post-Harvest Technology (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) also introduced the technology of preliminary processing and preservation of some types of aquatic products exported to the EU.

On the same afternoon, delegates also visited the chili sauce export production line of Tan Tien Dat Food Company Limited in Dai Dong commune, Vu Thu district.

Mr. Ngo Xuan Nam recommended that businesses, for products of plant origin, need to further strengthen compliance with EU regulations, especially the control of pesticide residues when many EU maximum residue levels (MRLs) are very low.

Agricultural and food products imported into the EU must comply with the regulations of this market such as: Regulations on business registration, regulations on MRL for products of plant origin, regulations on antibiotic residue levels for products of animal origin.

Or, regulations on food additives, food contact materials, regulations on mixed products, regulations on disease-free zones, regulations on ensuring food safety, traceability for processing facilities, IUU regulations, anti-deforestation regulations (EUDR) or other related regulations...

Source: https://danviet.vn/chia-khoa-giup-viet-nam-mo-toang-canh-cua-xuat-khau-nong-san-sang-eu-20240618173955799.htm