Enterprises exporting agricultural products have difficulty accessing information about changes in regulations on food safety

At the beginning of June, in Lam Dong province, the Vietnam Notification Office and National Inquiry Point on Sanitation, Epidemiology and Quarantine (SPS Vietnam, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) coordinated with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Department of Industry and Trade, Lam Dong Farmers' Association held a conference to disseminate regulations and commitments on SPS in the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreements (EVFTA), Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP).
Mr. Ngo Xuan Nam, Deputy Director of SPS Vietnam Office, said that each year, the EU or China market has about 1,000 changes in food hygiene and safety. Thus, on an average of 1 month, this Office receives 100 information about changes. Therefore, if they want to approach and expand, Vietnamese businesses need to understand the changes to meet the needs of their partners.
Typically, in Order 248 and Order 249, the General Administration of Customs of China has changed the requirements for factories for preliminary processing and processing of agricultural products to better control product quality. These regulations are mandatory for businesses to comply with in order to export to China.
However, producers and businesses are having difficulty in accessing information and production regulations of the markets.
Therefore, SPS Vietnam Office together with speakers, experts, research institutes updated and provided information to people and businesses.
Enterprises' problems such as production organization, factory, farm, product code printing, food safety measures, animal and plant diseases according to regulations have also been updated by SPS Vietnam Office and popular.
Mr. To Quang Dung - CEO of Truong Phuc Farm Company Limited (Da Lat, Lam Dong) said, for many years, the company has focused on producing hydroponic vegetables to supply the Korean market. Besides, Mr. Phuc is also looking for opportunities to penetrate the markets of Japan, Singapore, China and other countries.
However, the requirements on food hygiene and safety and the quality of the markets are constantly changing, making it difficult for Mr. Dung as well as for individuals and businesses to approach.
To find out, access to the above information takes a long time and must go through different channels to get it. It is very timely that the SPS Office gathers, updates and provides information to individuals and businesses to capture the needs of the market.
Mr. Ngo Xuan Nam said that with the EU market, if we study carefully, we can easily export to this market.
Typically, recently the EU changed the level of Ethylene Oxide residues in instant noodle products, businesses need to know immediately to adjust in production to create products that meet EU regulations. If businesses do not promptly update this change, it is very easy to violate the above regulations.
Meanwhile, in the very large market of China, the General Department of Customs of this country has approved over 2,000 product codes to be allowed to be exported to this market. After successful registration, it is expected that in June 2023, the General Administration of Customs of China will select and check businesses online. Therefore, businesses need to organize production to meet the requirements of the market.
In the coming time, the SPS Office will continue to select key agricultural production areas of Vietnam, directly related to the export of key agricultural products to organize conferences to disseminate regulations and commitments. on SPS in free trade agreements.