The Prime Minister requests strengthening of traceability and the assurance of quality for exported agricultural, forestry, and fishery products; and the proposal of streamlined customs clearance mechanisms for enterprises.
Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has recently signed Official Dispatch No. 150/CĐ-TTg on strengthening traceability and ensuring the quality and reputation of Vietnamese agricultural, forestry, and fishery products for export.
Viet Nam’s agriculture has now deeply integrated into the global economy, with an annual added-value growth rate of approximately 5–7%; export turnover of commodities has increased significantly, with 11 product groups achieving export turnover of over USD 1 billion; in the first six months of 2025 alone, total export value is estimated at USD 33.5 billion.
However, in recent times, according to reports from ministries and sectors, reflections from press agencies, and information from importing countries, several consignments of Vietnamese agricultural, forestry, and fishery products have been warned by the competent authorities of the European Union (EU) for violating EU food safety regulations.
The Prime Minister requests the strengthening of traceability and the assurance of quality for exported agricultural, forestry, and fishery products. Photo: Minh Hoàng.
In order to strengthen the assurance of origin and traceability of goods, and to ensure the quality and reputation of Vietnamese agricultural, forestry, and fishery products exported to European countries and the global market, in Official Dispatch No. 150/CĐ-TTg, the Prime Minister requests:
First, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant agencies in, immediately directing the implementation of traceability measures, addressing warnings, and notifying the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety of the European Commission in cases subject to warnings in accordance with the regulations of the RASFF system. At the same time, it shall promulgate and implement food safety control procedures throughout the entire production chain of crop and livestock products, including the control of export products in general and exports to the European Union market in particular, with a focus on monitoring the use of plant protection products, antibiotics, and food additives, to be completed in 2025.
In parallel with the technical measures, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment shall review and finalize programs and materials to organize in-depth training by sectoral value chains for relevant stakeholders on the production, harvesting, preliminary processing, processing, and preservation of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products to ensure safety and quality, in compliance with regulations on food safety, traceability, and the requirements of importing markets, to be completed in the third quarter of 2025.
Subsequently, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is assigned to assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant agencies in, implementing traceability measures and addressing warnings; strengthening supervision and traceability for high-risk products under its management that are prone to violations, to be completed by August 2025.
In addition, it shall direct the trade office system in Europe and other countries to promptly capture and assess warnings and changes in regulations of countries importing agricultural, forestry, and fishery products, and coordinate policy advocacy efforts to safeguard the maximum legitimate interests of enterprises; at the same time, actively implement trade promotion activities and support access to new export markets for Vietnamese agricultural, forestry, and fishery products.
The Prime Minister assigns the Ministry of Finance to study and propose streamlined and facilitative customs clearance mechanisms for enterprises. Photo: Minh Hoàng.
In the field of customs and finance, the Ministry of Finance shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and relevant agencies in, directing the Customs Department to study and propose streamlined and facilitative customs clearance mechanisms for enterprises; at the same time, to strengthen inspection of the import and export activities of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products, to be completed by September 2025.
The Ministry of Finance is also assigned to study and propose breakthrough policies to support and promote economic sectors’ investment in agriculture in general, and in the processing and preservation of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products in particular; and to urgently submit to the Government for promulgation a Decree replacing Decree No. 57/2018/NĐ-CP dated 17 April 2018 of the Government on mechanisms and policies to encourage enterprises to invest in agriculture and rural areas.
Alongside internal efforts, international cooperation is considered a key factor. Accordingly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for strengthening bilateral relations and deepening cooperation with the EU, while continuing to enhance international connectivity and mobilize resources for the development of modern and sustainable agriculture, thereby supporting the agricultural sector’s international integration and promoting and enhancing its role in multilateral cooperation mechanisms.
The Minister of Science and Technology shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant agencies in, regularly updating and directing the improvement of the system of standards and technical regulations on the quality of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products toward harmonization and alignment with international standards.
Chairpersons of the People’s Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities are required to urgently implement measures to thoroughly address the recommendations of the EU Inspection Mission concerning pesticide residue levels in cultivation areas. Photo: Minh Hoàng.
On the part of local authorities, Chairpersons of the People’s Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities are required to urgently implement measures to fully address the recommendations of the EU inspection mission concerning pesticide residues in cultivation areas during the period from 10 to 20 June 2025. Particular attention should be paid to localities such as Dong Thap, Lam Dong, and Ho Chi Minh City, where numerous consignments have been subject to warnings. In addition, strict and synchronized control of chemical residues, plant protection products, and veterinary drugs throughout the production chain, from cultivation and farming to processing, must be ensured.
The Prime Minister has also assigned industry associations the responsibility to promptly update regulations of importing markets, disseminate such information to their members, and encourage participation in production, processing, and export value chains that meet international standards. Maintaining traditional markets while proactively expanding into new ones will be key to enhancing the value and global standing of Vietnam’s agricultural sector on the export map.
Viet Anh
