Complying with FDA standards, Vietnamese herbal products are exported to the United States

Strictly follow the process

On October 19, at Giao Long Industrial Park, An Phuoc commune, Chau Thanh district, Ben Tre province, CTA Production Trading Services Joint Stock Company and Viet Nature Joint Stock Company (Vietnat) coordinated to hand over exported shipments of products such as Viacol lozenges, Vietnat ginger lozenges, Viatux Extra, Viacol Plus.

The event is an important milestone for the outreach to the United States, a demanding market of deeply processed products for Vietnamese herbs such as ginger, lemon basil, mint, turmeric, lemon essential oil, lemongrass... After leaving Ben Tre, the shipment will be delivered to Ho Chi Minh City port to complete procedures before being transported to the United States by sea.

Ms. Ho Thi Ngoc, Director of External Affairs of CTA Company, said that the product is produced on a modern, closed production line and produces products of 100% natural origin.

With herbal lozenge products, CTA Company and Vietnam implemented an export plan to the United States several years ago. After finding a partner in this country - LNS Vietnam International Joint Stock Company - the two units have standardized the production process and signed an exclusive distribution agreement with LNS in June 2023.

Based on LNS's recommendations, support, and advice, the herbal lozenge product has registered with FDA standards, implementing a practice process according to US MMR standards for food supplement products.

All criteria related to packaging in terms of label content, ingredient standards, and product warnings... are also strictly monitored according to FDA standards.

FDA standards are regulations issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to monitor the safety of products under its management list circulating in the country's market. Any exporter, if they want to bring products into the United States, must comply with FDA regulations and obtain an FDA certificate.

Manufacturing facilities must comply with and meet a series of FDA standards to achieve FDA certification. For example, with the group of functional foods, exporters must comply with regulatory requirements on product labeling, detailed information on product ingredients, and compliance with good manufacturing practices such as documentation. Record records ensure the use of preparations according to the prescribed list...

When registering for an FDA certificate, the importer must provide the product factory's address, HACCP/ISO 22000 certification (if any), and information about the person working and responsible for the FDA. In particular, businesses need contact information for representative offices in the United States.

The United States stipulates that each foreign facility can only designate one US agent. This agent must reside in the United States or maintain a place of business in the United States and be available to answer telephone calls or have staff answer calls during regular business hours during FDA inspections.

Support from lychee fruit

Because of so many detailed and thorough requirements, Ms. Ngoc considers finding a partner in the United States - LNS Vietnam International Joint Stock Company - a turning point in bringing deeply processed herbal products up to the U.S.

Previously, at the end of June 2023, LNS Company also coordinated with CTA Company, Bac Giang Provincial People's Committee, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade to successfully bring lychee fruit to the United States. From this fulcrum, related parties continue to promote product diversification and create more distribution channels for Vietnamese agricultural products in the U.S. market, including herbal lozenges.

Mr. Ho Hung, Regional Director of LNS Company, said that exporting herbal lozenges to the U.S. market certainly helps farmers whom Vietnat Company has contracted to purchase input raw materials and produce peace of mind. At the same time, it contributes to farmers having a stable and sustainable life.

At the same time, creating more opportunities helps local businesses access the large US market. From there, Vietnamese businesses have more motivation to export more agricultural products through official channels.

Currently, Vietnat herbal lozenges are distributed in many states of the United States, mainly in traditional markets and famous supermarket chains. In the immediate future, it is to serve the needs of Vietnamese people abroad who have the opportunity to use products from their homeland.

For a deeply processed agricultural and forestry product to be present in the U.S. market, the role of Mr. Pham Quang Huy, Agricultural Counselor, Vietnam Trade Office in the U.S., is enormous, according to Ms. Ho Thi Ngoc.

Along with that, comply with all regulations on production standards, food safety, labeling, and registration of environmental, labor, and origin standards; Find out consumer tastes; understand federal and state requirements and increase the use of e-commerce channels in the distribution and circulation of goods.