Vietnamese instant noodles "escape" food safety control in EU

DNVN - According to the EU's new regulations on strengthening additional inspections and urgent management of agricultural and food products imported from third countries into the EU, Vietnamese instant noodles are no longer subject to food safety control.

The Vietnam Trade Office in Belgium and the EU has just announced that on June 12, the European Commission published Regulation No. 2024/1662 signed on June 11, 2024 on reviewing and applying additional inspection measures and emergency measures to manage the import of agricultural products and food from third countries into the EU according to Regulation 2019/1973.

Accordingly, Vietnamese instant noodles are removed from food safety control in the EU because they meet EU regulations.

The Vietnam Trade Office in Belgium and the EU said that with the strong direction of the Minister and leaders of the Ministry of Industry and Trade in removing difficulties for businesses, the great efforts of the industry and trade sector in quality management, and guidance for businesses, discussions with partners and the determination of related businesses, instant noodles from Vietnam have had their food safety control lifted at the EU border gate. This is a great recognition of the EU for the ability to control food safety in the food industry of Vietnam with the case being handled very quickly.

EU removes Vietnamese instant noodles from food safety control.

Specifically, in January 2022, the EU included Vietnamese rice vermicelli, glass noodles, and noodles in Annex II on food safety control. Six months later, in July 2022, Vietnam successfully convinced the EU to remove rice vermicelli, glass noodles, and noodles from food safety control on the grounds that the EU's control contents exceeded the necessary needs according to SPS practices.

One year later, in June 2023, with the Ministry of Industry and Trade's efforts to control product quality very well, Vietnam successfully convinced the EU to move instant noodles from Appendix II to Appendix I with an inspection frequency of 20%.

In June 2024, one year after moving from Appendix II to Appendix I, Vietnamese instant noodles were removed from food safety control.

To continue stable exports to the EU as well as protect the reputation of Vietnamese exports, the Vietnam Trade Office in Belgium and the EU recommends that agricultural and food production enterprises need to improve product quality management to meet EU requirements.

According to the new regulations on strengthening additional inspections and urgent management of agricultural and food products imported from third countries into the EU, they have increased the frequency of dragon fruit inspections at the border from 20% to 30%, and at the same time, each shipment must be accompanied by a food safety certificate and test results of pesticide residues in the product.

Chili products currently subject to EU Annex I (50% inspection frequency) will be transferred to Annex II of Regulation 2019/1973 with 50% inspection frequency. At the same time, the shipments will be accompanied by a food safety certificate and analysis results of pesticide residues in the product.

EU okra products still apply Annex II of Regulation 2019/1973 with a 50% inspection frequency and are accompanied by food safety certificates and analysis results of pesticide residues in the product.

Durian products remain the same as the previous review in regulation 2024/286 dated February 6, 2024, the inspection frequency is 10% as prescribed in Appendix I.

This regulation takes effect from July 2.

As for chili products originating from Vietnam, exported shipments that have left the port from Vietnam or from a third country before the effective date of this regulation 2024/1662 will still be subject to regulation 2024/286 dated February 6, 2024 and do not have to be accompanied by a food safety certificate or analysis results of pesticide residues in the product. New shipments exported after the above deadline to the EU will be effective from September 2, 2024.

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Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/kinh-te/my-an-lien-viet-nam-thoat-su-kiem-soat-an-toan-thuc-pham-tai-eu/20240613040007405