Observing sanitary, phytosanitary regulations crucial to agricultural exports: conference

Observing sanitary, phytosanitary regulations is crucial to agricultural exports. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Participants at aconference in Hanoi on November 23 were provided with updates on commitments tosanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) regulations in free trade agreements between Vietnam andmember countries of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

The event was jointly held by the Vietnam Sanitaryand Phytosanitary Notification Authority and Enquiry Point (SPS Vietnam) underthe Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Hanoi Department ofAgriculture and Rural Development.

Ngo Xuan Nam, VPS Vietnam Deputy Director, warnedthat the violations of SPS regulations will harm not only businesses but also theentire sector and Vietnamese farm produce brands in the international market.

Vietnam has joined 19 trade agreements, bothbilateral and multilateral, of them 16 officially signed and three undernegotiations.

A view of the conference. (Photo: VNA)

Notably, the RCEP agreement, which took effect on the first day of last year and comprises ASEAN countries, China, Japan, the Republic ofKorea, Australia and New Zealand, sets out many commitments, including those onSPS.

Mentioning China, one of Vietnam’s majoragricultural product importers, Lo Xuan Quyet, Chief Representative of the VietnamTrade Promotion Office in Hangzhou, suggested domestic businesses optimiseadvantages in geographical location, production and transportation costs andtropical products; follow VietGAP, GlobalGAP and other standards set by theneighbouring country; and enhance food safety and hygiene control to boostexports to the market.

Vietnamese firms need to comply with regulations on productquality, quarantine, packaging, and traceability set by importers, improvetheir foreign language skills and learn more about foreign markets, hestressed./.

VNA