(vasep.com.vn) The European Union (EU) market continues to be an important and promising destination for Viet Nam’s seafood export sector. However, alongside these opportunities come increasingly stringent requirements regarding quality, food safety, and traceability. Each year, the EU issues approximately 180 new or amended regulations relating to agricultural products, food, and seafood. Timely and accurate understanding of these regulations is a key factor in maintaining market access, avoiding legal risks, and preventing trade disruptions.
Within the framework of activities supporting the sector in Viet Nam in August 2025, COLEAD coordinated with the AGRINFO information system—an EU-funded initiative—to introduce notable policy changes from the European side. In particular, several forthcoming regulations are expected to have a direct impact on the export operations of Vietnamese seafood enterprises.
One of the key issues is the EU’s frequent adjustments to maximum residue levels (MRLs) for pesticides, with approximately 40–60 MRLs revised each year. This directly affects farming areas, production processes, and the quality control systems of enterprises.
A new Regulation currently being prepared for adoption by the EU will establish maximum limits for inorganic arsenic in fish and crustaceans, ranging from 0.10–0.50 mg/kg depending on the species. Expected to apply from the fourth quarter of 2025, this Regulation will require enterprises to exercise strict control over raw material sources and production processes. Meanwhile, new technical requirements for frozen brined tuna, such as the installation of temperature monitoring equipment and verification of vessel freezing capacity, also impose additional pressure on operators.
In addition, from September 2026, the EU will completely prohibit the use of antimicrobials intended for human use or as growth promoters in animal products, including seafood. This requirement has already been scheduled for inclusion in certification as of September 2024, necessitating thorough preparation of procedures and certification documentation. The EU has also changed its approach to composite products, moving away from classification based on the proportion of animal-origin ingredients and instead assessing them based on the level of risk to public health.
In light of the EU’s extensive and continuously evolving legal framework, access to accurate, timely, and comprehensible information is essential for enterprises to maintain competitiveness. AGRINFO serves as a valuable information platform, supporting enterprises in monitoring, understanding, and preparing for changes in EU regulations.
Enterprises may access and utilize AGRINFO at: https://agrinfo.eu, featuring key contents such as:
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Fortnightly update bulletins (subscription available at https://agrinfo.eu/subscribe)
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Detailed guidance on new and complex regulations
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Webinars, open-access materials, and interactive data from the RASFF and TRACES systems
In the context of a market that increasingly demands transparency and sustainability, proactively updating and complying with policy developments is not only a responsibility but also a significant competitive advantage for all seafood enterprises targeting the EU market.
