The quality of Vietnamese agricultural products has been recognized by the EU

The sharp decrease in the number of EU warnings in 2025 is seen as a positive sign for the future direction of agricultural exports.

From reacting to warnings to risk prevention.

The number of warnings issued by the European Union (EU) regarding Vietnamese agricultural products and food has nearly halved in 2025. From 114 warnings in 2024, the EU will only issue 60 warnings this year, a decrease of 48%. Given the market's notoriously strict food safety and plant and animal quarantine standards, this figure reflects a significant change in the quality and compliance level of Vietnamese agricultural products.

According to Dr. Ngo Xuan Nam, Deputy Director of the SPS Viet Nam Office, this is not a random result. “The reduction in the number of EU warnings shows that businesses and localities have begun to approach exports more proactively, complying right from the production stage, instead of dealing with problems after the goods have reached the market,” said Dr. Nam.

The EU has long been an important export market for many key agricultural products such as fruits and vegetables, seafood, coffee, and cashews. At the same time, it is also a market with frequently changing regulations on pesticide residues, antibiotics, additives, and traceability. Even a small change in technical thresholds can immediately trigger warning signs of risk.

According to the 2025 work summary report of the Viet Nam SPS Office, in the first 11 months of the year, the unit compiled 968 SPS notifications from WTO member countries, including 578 draft new regulations and 390 documents already in effect, directly related to food safety and animal and plant quarantine.

This large volume of information is being transferred to specialized agencies, localities, and businesses for timely review, feedback, and adjustment of production processes. According to Mr. Ngo Xuan Nam, this is a crucial step to avoid the situation of "only realizing your mistake at the border."

"Previously, businesses only reacted when warned. Now we try to act earlier, to warn earlier, so that businesses know where they need to change before exporting," Mr. Nam said.

In parallel with receiving notifications from external sources, Viet Nam has also transparently implemented 12 domestic SPS measures, sending notifications to the WTO SPS Secretariat and incorporating feedback from WTO members in accordance with established procedures. This approach helps reduce the risk of technical conflicts while fostering transparency in trade.

The EU is a 'test' of quality.

The EU's easing of the warning is seen as a crucial "test" of Viet Nam's agricultural product compliance capabilities. This market constantly updates its regulations on maximum residue limits (MRLs), labeling requirements, product blending, and traceability.

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

According to Mr. Ngo Xuan Nam, timely communication plays a crucial role. "When businesses understand changes in MRLs or antibiotic use right from the start of the production season, they can adjust their input materials and care processes. A delay of even a moment can lead to a significant risk of warning issues," he said.

2025 also marks a shift in how agricultural, forestry, and fisheries export businesses are supported. Instead of general guidelines, the Viet Nam SPS Office has taken the lead in compiling six handbooks guiding the implementation of SPS for specific markets and product categories, from the EU and Australia to Islamic markets, fruits and vegetables, seafood, and animal products.

In addition, four regional conferences on updating SPS commitments in the EVFTA, UKVFTA, RCEP, and VIFTA agreements were held in Hung Yen, An Giang , Dong Nai, and Lam Dong. These conferences focused on explaining new regulations, sharing experiences in handling warnings, and ways to reduce the risk of violations in exports.

"Businesses are not lacking in goodwill, but without proper and sufficient guidance, they can easily repeat mistakes. An industry-specific approach makes it easier for them to apply the methods," Mr. Ngo Xuan Nam commented.

The SPS report also points out existing limitations, such as uneven analytical and forecasting capabilities in SPS, a lack of interconnected early warning systems, and slow adoption of new regulations by some small businesses and cooperatives.

Nevertheless, the sharp decrease in EU warnings is seen as a positive sign for agricultural export orientation. "The goal is not just to reduce the number of warnings, but to build sustainable compliance capacity, so that Vietnamese agricultural products can enter demanding markets in a stable manner," Mr. Nam said.

In 2026, the Viet Nam SPS Office plans to continue improving the early warning system, updating the SPS manual for key markets, and strengthening communication with businesses and localities. When quality and compliance become the foundation, market expansion will be less risky and more sustainable.

Source: Agriculture and Environment News