The Plant Protection Department has called on enterprises to adhere to the EU's agricultural product quality standards, highlighting the bloc's heightened scrutiny on Vietnamese farm exports. The directive comes in response to a surge in control measures over the quality of several Vietnamese farm products, as noted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. According to the Vietnam Sanitary and Phytosanitary Notification Authority and Enquiry Point, the first half of the year saw a notable increase in warnings from the EU to Vietnam, with a more than 80 percent rise compared to the previous year. This has led to escalated inspection rates for key exports such as dragon fruit, chilli, okra, and durian.
Đặng Phúc Nguyên, from the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, highlighted the potential threat to the reputation of Vietnamese agricultural goods in the EU and globally, stressing the importance of meeting food hygiene and safety standards for market expansion. He identified several fruits with market potential in the EU, urging enterprises to focus on compliance and quality control.
Similarly, Hoàng Thị Liên of the Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association emphasized the importance of staying informed about market demands and regulations. The Plant Protection Department pointed out the lack of compliance with import regulations by many enterprises, particularly in the use of pesticides, antibiotics, and fertilisers, underscoring the necessity of following guidelines from production to export.
Source: vietnamnet.vn