Creating a clear corridor to promote agricultural trade

On the morning of October 22, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Mr. Phung Duc Tien, chaired a meeting with agricultural counselors and officials from the embassies of the United States, Australia, Brazil, Singapore, France, South Korea, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Denmark, and the Netherlands. The meeting aims to promote agricultural trade between Vietnam and these countries.

The meeting focused on facilitating market access for agricultural products and the role of embassies in enhancing bilateral trade. In particular, agricultural counselors highlighted concerns that the implementation of the circular could delay the registration of companies authorized to export meat and meat products to Vietnam. As a result, this could hinder market entry for new products or disrupt the export of products that were previously sold in Vietnam.

The Vice Minister of MARD, Mr. Phung Duc Tien emphasized that Circular No. 04/2024/TT-BNNPTNT had been developed and implemented in accordance with the procedures outlined by the Law on the Promulgation of Legal Documents, including policy communication and execution.

Regarding the implementation of the Circular No. 04, Mr. Chu Nguyen Thach, Head of the Animal Quarantine Division of the Department of Animal Health (DAH), explained that non-EU countries have a 30-working-day period for processing applications, while EU countries, under the EVFTA agreement, have 45 working days. However, discrepancies between the generic and specific names on quarantine certificates have caused challenges for inspection authorities at the border gate. 

DAH has sent formal requests to embassies and relevant authorities to update the list of animal products with specific names, ensuring consistency between various lists and certificates as per Circulars No.01 and 04.

To date, 12 out of 26 countries have submitted lists of thousands of animal products. These lists are long and extensive, therefore, DAH is focusing on reviewing and cross-referencing them to update and publish this information on the website.

Regarding test results for Salmonella and E.coli in imported animal products, the DAH tested over 32,000 samples between 2020 and April 2024, with 1,750 positive results, a 0.56% rate. Since the implementation of Circular 04, the detection of Salmonella has led to stricter controls, preventing disease risks and ensuring food safety, with a significant reduction in positive samples in recent months.

Vice Minister, Mr. Phung Duc Tien noted that “While there have been fewer food poisoning incidents in 2023 and 2024, the number of affected individuals has risen, with large-scale Salmonella outbreaks being a major cause. However, Vietnam has taken steps in implementing the Circular 04 to safeguard mutual interests in the agricultural trade sector.”

Representatives from the embassies of the U.S., Australia, Brazil, Singapore, France, South Korea, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Denmark, the Netherlands, and businesses importing animal products to Vietnam raised concerns about the registration process for meat producers and exporters.

Sharing the challenges of market access, French agricultural counselor, Ms. Marion Chaminade voiced concerns over delays in approving new product registrations, which impact market access. She also noted that new quarantine regulations, unclear additional requirements, which are often disproportionate to food safety or disease risks, disrupt trade flows. 

U.S. Embassy representatives emphasized the need for clear guidance on implementing Circular 04 and formal documents from Vietnamese authorities to ensure equivalence with U.S. standards.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Long, Director of the DAH, disease control is integral to the evaluation of dossiers, with a significant portion of submissions requiring additional information, particularly concerning avian influenza. For the U.S. market, all 15 submitted dossiers have been approved.

The DAH will issue official communications to facilitate discussions with foreign regulatory bodies and update its website with relevant guidelines, testing procedures, and FAQs.

In his concluding remarks, Vice Minister Mr. Phung Duc Tien expressed Vietnam's desire to be a friend and reliable partner to countries worldwide. He reaffirmed that MARD, with an open-minded attitude, will direct the DAH to work with counselors and veterinary authorities from foreign countries to resolve concerns thoroughly for better mutual understanding and closer cooperation.

As Vietnam exports agricultural products to over 200 countries and territories, it must adhere to the stringent regulations of these markets. To enhance bilateral trade, MARD calls for closer coordination between agricultural counselors and veterinary authorities to establish clear corridor for the smooth entry of agricultural products into Vietnam and for Vietnam’s exports to the world.