Disseminating new China-market regulations for AFF trade

On May 14, in Dak Lak, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in coordination with the Dak Lak Provincial People’s Committee, organized a conference on “Updating and disseminating information on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) regulations under the RCEP Agreement and China’s Decree No. 280.”

The conference was co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Vo Van Hung and Nguyen Thien Van, Vice Chairman of the Dak Lak Provincial People’s Committee. More than 150 delegates attended the conference in person, alongside participants joining from online connection points across 34 provinces and cities, including policymakers, businesses, cooperatives, and producers.

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Minister Vo Van Hung said that selecting Dak Lak as the host location carried practical significance. Dak Lak in particular, and the Central Highlands, South Central Coast, and Southeast regions in general, are major production hubs for many key agricultural commodities, including coffee, pepper, cashew nuts, fruits, livestock products, forestry products, and various food products with strong export potential.

According to Deputy Minister Vo Van Hung, the conference was organized to provide timely and comprehensive updates on new regulations related to food safety and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures under the RCEP Agreement and China’s Decree No. 280. It also aimed to guide regulatory agencies, businesses, cooperatives, and production and processing facilities in registering and maintaining export eligibility conditions for different product groups, while creating a forum for stakeholders to exchange views, discuss issues, and address practical challenges arising during implementation.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement is an important economic cooperation framework linking major markets across the Asia-Pacific region. Effective implementation of RCEP commitments will not only help expand market opportunities for Vietnamese agricultural and food products but also place higher demands on compliance capacity in terms of standards, technical regulations, SPS requirements, and quality management practices in line with international norms.

Mr. Nguyen Thien Van, Vice Chairman of the Dak Lak People’s Committee, said that this conference was both important and necessary in order to enhance awareness and implementation capacity regarding SPS regulations under the RCEP Agreement as well as new regulations introduced by the Chinese market. He noted that the event provided an opportunity for delegates to exchange experiences, share insights, and propose solutions to challenges, with the broader goal of further increasing the export value of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products.

He expressed confidence that, through the conference, participants would gain the knowledge needed to strengthen awareness and implementation capacity of relevant regulations, thereby helping businesses become more proactive in accessing high-potential markets. This, he said, would help promote Viet Nam’s agricultural, forestry, and fishery exports in a safer, higher-quality, and more sustainable direction.

Regarding the Chinese market, he emphasized that China remains one of the most important export destinations for Vietnamese agricultural and food products. However, alongside advantages such as geographical proximity, strong consumer demand, and long-standing trade ties, China is continuously tightening and improving its management system for imported food products.

In particular, on October 14, 2025, the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) issued Decree No. 280 on the registration of overseas food production establishments exporting to China, which will take effect from June 1, 2026, replacing Decree No. 248. This regulation will have direct impacts on Vietnamese regulatory agencies, businesses, cooperatives, and production and processing facilities that are currently exporting or planning to export to the Chinese market.

In addition to Decree No. 280, GACC Notice No. 219 dated November 7, 2025, Notice No. 27 dated March 18, 2026, and other related regulations concerning facility registration, food safety control, animal and plant quarantine, labeling, packaging, and traceability also need to be updated and disseminated promptly and comprehensively to all relevant stakeholders.

“If businesses do not fully understand the regulations or fail to properly prepare documentation, production and processing conditions, quality control systems, and registration procedures in accordance with the requirements, they will face difficulties in maintaining or expanding exports,” Mr. Nguyen Thien Van stressed.

Therefore, organizing this conference is highly necessary to provide timely and comprehensive information on new regulations related to food safety and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures under the RCEP Agreement and China’s Decree No. 280; to guide regulatory agencies, businesses, cooperatives, and production and processing facilities in registering and maintaining export eligibility conditions for each product group; and to create a forum for stakeholders to exchange views, discuss issues, and address practical difficulties arising during implementation.

“I firmly believe that, with the responsible participation of regulatory agencies, local authorities, experts, industry associations, businesses, cooperatives, producers, and all delegates attending today’s conference, the event will achieve many practical outcomes.

It will contribute to improving awareness and implementation capacity regarding SPS regulations, while supporting production, processing, and export stakeholders in proactively adapting to changes in the Chinese market and other markets within the RCEP region. In doing so, it will help promote Viet Nam’s agricultural, forestry, and fishery exports in a safe, high-quality, transparent, and sustainable direction,” the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment leader emphasized.

At the conference, representatives from relevant agencies and organizations delivered reports, presentations, and specialized guidance on topics including updates on food safety and SPS regulations under the RCEP Agreement; China’s Decree No. 280 and several notices issued by the China General Administration of Customs regarding the management and registration of overseas food production enterprises exporting to the Chinese market; guidance on registration procedures for plant-based food production facilities exporting to China; guidance for seafood processing establishments exporting to China; guidance for animal-origin food production facilities exporting to China; as well as regulations on labeling and packaging of agricultural and food products in several RCEP markets and key considerations for the Chinese market.