Germany- based quality-testing firm TUV SUD says it can guide Vietnamese apparel, footwear, leather goods and textiles exporters to prosper in EU markets, avoiding several legal pitfalls.

The company said in a statement on August 19 that its guidance would be useful for companies to deal with EU regulations, especially those relating to REACH – registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemical substances.

This would allow suppliers to expand their market share, access key EU markets and reaffirm their global industry standing, the company statement said.

"Local suppliers will have significant competitive advantages over their competitors to access the EU market when they fully understand stringent EU regulations," said Suresh Somou, general director of TUV SUD Vietnam.

With TUV SUD's expertise, complying with REACH requirements would become a simple, step-by-step approach. By understanding the regulations and requirements, suppliers can easily classify their products and determine individual obligations regarding product type, place of manufacture and role in the supply chain.

Failure to comply with the EU's regulatory requirements would lead to costly product recalls and damage brand reputation.

Hence EU brands, retailers and importers are under great pressure to ensure that their products meet the necessary regulatory requirements. Their non-EU suppliers are also required to ensure full REACH compliance.

TUV SUD provides solutions for product quality and safety testing and inspection, engineering support, management system certification, and training./.