Viet Nam's Prime Minister requested traceability of export farm and fishery product quality

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has just signed Official Telegram No. 150/CD-TTg on strengthening traceability and ensuring the quality and reputation of Vietnam’s agricultural, forestry, and fishery exports.

Vietnam’s agriculture is now deeply integrated into the global market, with an annual added value growth rate of around 5–7%. Export turnover has risen sharply, with 11 product groups each reaching over USD 1 billion. In the first half of 2025 alone, total export value is estimated at USD 33.5 billion.

However, in recent times, according to reports from ministries and sectors, media coverage, and information from importing countries, certain shipments of Vietnam’s agricultural, forestry, and fishery products have been flagged by the European Union (EU) authorities for violations of EU food safety regulations.

To strengthen origin verification and traceability, and to ensure the quality and reputation of Vietnam’s agricultural, forestry, and fishery exports to Europe and global markets, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, in Official Telegram No. 150/CD-TTg, instructed that:

First, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in coordination with relevant agencies, must immediately implement traceability measures, address warnings, and notify the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety of the European Commission regarding cases flagged under the RASFF system.

At the same time, a food safety control process must be issued and implemented across the entire production chain of crop and livestock products. This includes oversight of exports in general and exports to the EU in particular, with a focus on monitoring the use of pesticides, antibiotics, and food additives, to be completed within 2025.

In parallel with technical measures, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is tasked with reviewing and improving programs and materials to conduct in-depth training by product chain for stakeholders in production, harvesting, preliminary processing, processing, and preservation. These efforts aim to ensure safety, quality, traceability, and compliance with food safety regulations of importing markets, to be completed by the third quarter of 2025.

Next, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is assigned to take the lead, in coordination with relevant agencies, in implementing traceability measures and addressing warnings; strengthening monitoring and traceability for high-risk products under its management, to be completed by August 2025.

In addition, it shall direct Vietnam’s trade offices in Europe and other countries to promptly capture and assess warnings and regulatory changes from importing markets, and to coordinate policy advocacy to safeguard business interests to the fullest extent. At the same time, it should actively promote trade activities and support access to new export markets for Vietnam’s agricultural, forestry, and fishery products.

In the fields of customs and finance, the Ministry of Finance, in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and relevant agencies, shall direct the Department of Customs to study and propose a streamlined customs mechanism to facilitate businesses. At the same time, it must strengthen inspections of agricultural, forestry, and fishery import–export activities, to be completed by September 2025.

The Ministry of Finance is also tasked with studying and proposing breakthrough policies to encourage and promote investment from all economic sectors in agriculture in general, and in the processing and preservation of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products in particular. It is required to urgently submit to the Government a draft decree to replace Decree No. 57/2018/ND-CP dated April 17, 2018, on mechanisms and policies to encourage enterprises to invest in agriculture and rural areas.

Alongside domestic efforts, international cooperation is also regarded as a key factor. Accordingly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is tasked with strengthening bilateral relations and deepening cooperation with the EU, while continuing to foster international partnerships and mobilize resources for the development of modern and sustainable agriculture. These efforts aim to support Vietnam’s agricultural sector in global integration and enhance its role in multilateral cooperation mechanisms.

The Minister of Science and Technology, in coordination with relevant agencies, is responsible for regularly updating and directing the improvement of standards and regulations on the quality of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products, ensuring harmonization and alignment with international standards.

At the local level, Chairpersons of Provincial and Municipal People’s Committees must promptly implement measures to fully address the EU inspection mission’s recommendations on pesticide residues in cultivation areas from June 10 to 20, 2025. Particular attention is required in localities such as Dong Thap, Lam Dong, and Ho Chi Minh City, where many shipments have been flagged. In addition, strict and consistent control of chemical residues, pesticides, and veterinary drugs must be enforced throughout the production chain, from farming to processing.

The Prime Minister has also assigned responsibility to industry associations to promptly update import market regulations, disseminate them to their members, and encourage participation in internationally compliant production, processing, and export value chains. Maintaining traditional markets while proactively expanding into new ones will be the key to enhancing the value and position of Vietnam’s agriculture on the global export map.