Illustrative image (Source: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – Food quarantine certificates, fees and online filing for animal-derived food imports were discussed during a business meeting in Ho Chi Minh City on March 23.
Nakagawa Motohisa representing Japanese firms said Vietnam’s requirements are posing some difficulties to Japanese exporters of processed food, given that Japan is well-known for its green agriculture.
Le Son Ha from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Plant Protection Department argued that quarantine for imported glutens will continue since some have been found to contain harmful micro-organisms.
If Japanese exporters want to waive this step, they could provide detailed information on processing technology for Vietnamese authorities, he suggested.
Nguyen Hung Long, deputy head of the Health Ministry’s Vietnam Food Administration, said online filing for imports has been made available since late 2014, which has received warm response from enterprises.
Filing procedures will take less time in the future, he informed, adding that requirement for product samples are likely to be waived through the process.
Regarding animal-derived food imports, Japanese exporters wished for simplified procedures so that food preservation costs can be lowered, as the goods will reach the hands of Vietnamese importers sooner.
The event was hosted by the Japan External Trade Organisation.-VNA
