Vietnam possesses immense agricultural potential, but conquering international markets like the US, EU, or Japan requires meeting strict quality and safety standards. This article outlines the core regulations and essential certifications that every agricultural export business must master.

The Common Ground: Mandatory Export Requirements

Regardless of the destination market, Vietnamese agricultural products must adhere to a set of fundamental standards to ensure transparency, safety, and quality.

1. Origin & Food Safety Certifications:

• Certificate of Origin (CO): Issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, it proves the clear origin of the product and is a fundamental requirement for traceability.
• Health Certificate (HC): Issued by the Food Safety Department (Ministry of Health), it confirms that the product meets safety standards for circulation in the importing country.
• Phytosanitary Certificate (Phyto): Issued by the Plant Protection Department, it ensures that agricultural products are free from pests and diseases.

2. International Quality Management Standards:

• ISO 22000: A globally recognized certification for a comprehensive food safety management system.
• HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points): Certifies that a business has effectively implemented a risk control system to prevent food poisoning.

3. Regulations on Residues and Packaging:

• Pesticide Residues: Must be within the permissible limits. Recommendation: Maintain a residue level at the safe harbor threshold of 0.01 mg/kg.
• Packaging & Labeling: Information must be accurate, in the language of the importing country, and clearly state the production area code and packing facility code.

Competitive Advantage: Certifications like VietGAP and GlobalG.A.P provide a significant competitive advantage in building credibility.

Specific Requirements for Key Markets

Beyond general standards, each market has its own unique technical barriers.

🇺🇸 The US Market:

• FDA Oversight: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) closely monitors all shipments. Businesses must register with the FDA and demonstrate their food safety control capabilities.
• FSVP Program: The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requires importers to implement a Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP).
• FCE Certificate (Food Canning Establishment): Mandatory for canned or acidified food establishments.

🇪🇺 The EU Market:

• Pesticide Residues: Strict compliance with Regulation (EC) 396/2005 on Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs).
• Morphological Standards: Products must meet standards for freshness, size, and color as per EU Regulation No. 543/2011.

🇨🇳 The Chinese Market:

• Decree 248 & 249: Enterprises must register for an export code with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) and comply with food safety management measures.

🇯🇵 The Japanese Market:

• Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS): Extremely strict standards covering organic soil, fertilizers, processing methods, and labeling.

🇰🇷 The South Korean Market:

• PLS System (Positive List System): Applies a "uniform limit" of 0.01 mg/kg for unregistered pesticide residues.
• KFDA Certificate: Required for processed agricultural products (dried, canned, etc.) by the Korea Food & Drug Administration.

Stay Connected with VVagri

Keep in touch with VVagri to stay updated on the latest market trends and insights in Vietnam’s agricultural sector. Follow us for daily updates and expert analyses!