The above information was announced by Dr. Ngo Xuan Nam - Deputy Director of the Vietnam SPS Office - on the morning of February 24 at an online conference on compliance with food safety regulations of the EU market. According to Mr. Nam, Vietnam is the country with the most warnings in Asia from the EU, followed by Thailand with 6 warnings, Indonesia and South Korea each with 2 warnings.

The violations were mainly related to pesticide residues, mycotoxins and additives, and antibiotics. Of these, 5 warnings were related to pesticides, 1 to mycotoxins, 2 to additives, and the rest were violations related to environmental pollution and new products.

Alarmingly, Vietnamese seafood is regularly warned about antibiotic residues, while fruits and vegetables are contaminated with pesticide residues. Many fruits do not ensure quarantine periods, leading to chemical residues when exported. Of the 16 warnings at the beginning of the year, Vietnam had to destroy 3 shipments, recall 9, and handle 4 with other measures.

Last year, Vietnam also received 114 warnings from the EU, an increase of 70% compared to 2023.

According to the Vietnam SPS Office, the main reasons are Farmers have not strictly complied with regulations on the use of pesticides and antibiotics, while many exporting enterprises have not promptly updated new standards from the EU. In addition, the lack of uniformity in controlling raw material areas and monitoring the supply chain has also contributed to the increase in violations.

In addition to product quality violations, according to Dr. Ton Nu Thuc Uyen - Acting Director of the Vietnam TBT Office, some new food products have also been warned due to labeling that does not comply with EU regulations. Accordingly, products containing meat, milk and wheat must clearly state the origin of each ingredient through different processing stages. Lack of transparency can lead to warnings or product recalls.

Mr. Nguyen Van Ha, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Dak Lak, said that Vietnam does not have a specific set of standards for key agricultural products for export, causing difficulties in propaganda and control. In Dak Lak, the Department received many directives but lacked consistency, causing confusion in guiding businesses and farmers.

Mr. Ha suggested that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development systematize standards by crop group, clearly define from raw material areas to processing, and have sanctions to handle substandard products.

The Vietnam SPS Office also believes that it is necessary to increase information updates and disseminate new standards to farmers, cooperatives and businesses. Authorities need to provide detailed guidance on export procedures, labelling and food safety certification. At the same time, local authorities need to strictly control the supply chain, ensuring compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary regulations.

At the conference, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan emphasized that businesses need to commit to products meeting standards before exporting, in order to enhance the reputation of Vietnamese goods in the international market.

"If quality is well controlled, Vietnamese agricultural products will not only avoid warnings but also increase their competitive advantage and export sustainably," said Mr. Hoan.

According to customs data, in 2024, agricultural and aquatic product exports to the EU will reach nearly 4.5 billion USD, up 25% compared to 2023 and up 55% compared to 2020.