Hanoi (VNA) – No Vietnamese rice is named in the list of the grain seized by Swedish authorities on suspicion of quality fraud, according to the Vietnam Trade Office in the European country.
Vietnam mainly exports jasmine and japonica rice to Sweden, while that controlled by the country is basmati, which primarily originates from other markets, the office explained.
Earlier, the office said the Swedish Food Agency, police, Work Environment Authority, Customs Service, and several municipalities carried out a control over 600 tonnes of basmati rice, and found that nearly all of them was labeled as being of better quality than it was.
Trade Counsellor Nguyen Thi Hoang Thuy said Sweden, as well as the broader Nordic region, has imposed numerous stringent regulations and criteria for imports, including rice, urging businesses to pay special attention to these regulations to maintain their market share there.
Vietnam’s rice export value to Sweden increased to 3 - 4 million USD from only tens of thousands of US dollar over the past three years.
Although this figure may not be significant, Thuy said she believes that with the collective efforts of the community, Vietnamese rice and other goods will enhance their presence in Sweden and many other markets around the world./.
