EU recognizes quality of Vietnamese agricultural products

From reacting to warnings to risk prevention

The number of warnings issued by the European Union (EU) against Vietnamese agricultural and food products has fallen by nearly half in 2025. From 114 warnings in 2024, the EU issued only 60 warnings this year, down 48%. For a market renowned for its stringent food safety and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements, this figure reflects a notable improvement in the quality of Vietnamese agricultural products and their level of compliance.

According to Dr. Ngo Xuan Nam, Deputy Director of the SPS Viet Nam Office, the reduction in EU warnings indicates that businesses and localities have begun to adopt a more proactive approach to exports, ensuring compliance from the production stage rather than addressing incidents after products have already entered the market.

The EU is a market that frequently changes regulations on pesticide residues, antibiotics, additives, and traceability. Even a minor adjustment in technical thresholds can immediately trigger the risk of a warning.

According to the 2025 year-end report of the SPS Viet Nam Office, in the first 11 months of the year, the office synthesized 578 draft new regulations and 390 regulations already in force issued by WTO members, all directly related to food safety and SPS. This large volume of information was forwarded to specialized agencies, localities, and businesses for timely review, feedback, and adjustment of production processes.

In parallel with receiving external notifications, Viet Nam also notified 12 domestic SPS measures, submitting them to the SPS/WTO Secretariat and collecting feedback from WTO members in accordance with procedures. This approach helps reduce the risk of technical disputes while enhancing transparency in trade.

The EU as a 'quality test'

The decline in EU warnings is regarded as an important "test" of the compliance capacity of Vietnamese agricultural products. This market continuously updates regulations on maximum residue level (MRL), labeling requirements, blended products, and traceability.

Implementing the directives of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Thanh Nam, the SPS Viet Nam Office coordinated with relevant agencies to organize a nationwide online conference in February 2025, focusing on urgently updating the EU’s new SPS regulations and guiding businesses and localities on key points to note.

The sharp downward trend in EU warnings is regarded as a positive signal for the orientation of agricultural exports. "The objective is not only to reduce the number of warnings but also to build sustainable compliance capacity so that Vietnamese agricultural products can enter demanding markets stably," Mr. Nam said.

In 2026, the SPS Viet Nam Office plans to further complete its early warning system, update SPS handbooks for key markets, and strengthen communication to businesses and localities. When quality and compliance become the foundation, market expansion will entail lower risks and greater sustainability.