
Can Tho (VNA) – Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures inforeign markets were introduced to businesses and local authorities at a forumheld by the Coordination Office for Agriculture and Rural Affairs in the Mekong Delta and Vietnam Sanitary and Phytosaniary Notification Authority and Enquiry Point (Vietnam SPS) in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on November 9.
To date, Vietnam has engaged in 19 free trade agreements, many of which lay stringentSPS requirements, as well as other commitments on harmonisation of standardsand regulations among the signatories, requiring businesses to adapt to bolster exports.
At the event, experts highlighted Vietnam’s commitments under the UK-VietnamFree Trade Agreement, updates on SPS measures, integrated pest management (IPM)for fruit trees and measures to prevent diseases, and the UK’s regulations onproducts of plant origin imported from Vietnam.
A Phytosanitary Certificate (PC) is required for almost all trees and theirparts, including seedlings. Meanwhile, other products such as processed fruitsand vegetables, bread and frozen materials can enter the UK market without thePC.
Competent authorities also provided information on import regulations ofseveral key markets, including China, the EU and the US, while introducingmeasures to improve the quality of plantation areas, and updating businessesand cooperatives with information on the highest level of a pesticide residuethat is legally tolerated in food in the import markets./.