On May 10, the Plant Protection Department and the International Trade Center (ITC) jointly organized a workshop to share project results on strengthening plant quarantine and pesticide management in Vietnam. Vietnam.
Present were Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, Deputy Director of Plant Protection Department; Ms Pia Buller, EU Delegation to Vietnam; Ms. Margareta Funder, SYMST Project Manager, ITC.
Workshop to exchange the project results of SYMST. Picture: Lam Hung.
Over the years, the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has opened up opportunities to increase EU-Vietnam trade. Currently, the EU has become one of the most attractive markets for Vietnamese agricultural products, including vegetables and fruits.
As the national phytosanitary authority of Vietnam, the Ministry of Phytosanitary Protection is currently working with the International Trade Center (ITC) to implement the Vietnam-funded Systemic Mechanisms for Safer Trade (SYMST Project) project funded by the EU with the aim of strengthening the national capacities to address food safety and phytosanitary issues in the production and export of agricultural products of plant origin.
Create an export-themed website
In evaluating the SYMST project, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, deputy director of the Plant Protection Department, said that one of the key activities of the SYMST project in Vietnam is to focus on disseminating information and raising awareness of SYMST issues related to the Focus on plant health and pesticides when exporting agricultural products of plant origin from Vietnam to the EU.
Website interface ready to export.
To provide information on private companies and import-export companies, the SYMST project launched an exportable website (www.sansangxuatkhau.ppd.gov.vn) with a multi-functional platform designed to help users network and inform about import and Export regulations of the countries.
Users can easily look up the full growing area code and database. In addition, the software also supports connecting to applications or databases to support exporting. Through the website, relevant entities create spaces to exchange, promote and inspire export activities. At the seminar, representatives of import-export companies rated the website as user-friendly. Easy to use, easy to use.
In order to support the project in the best possible way, the plant protection department will make further updates and corrections in the coming period at the request of companies, for example the FAQ section needs more information or updates the information regularly. The latest news and documents about export works, which will update and further improve the website to become a reliable and useful address not only for export companies but also for local officials, organizations and individuals interested in export.
Building a chain of agricultural products that meet export standards to the EU
The SYMST project has also supported the development of a production chain model for grapefruit, dragon fruit and pepper for export to the EU. According to Mr Nguyen and food safety.
Mr. Nguyen Xuan Hong, consultant for SPS, commented on the workshop. Picture: Lam Hung.
In addition, this is also a pattern spot for farmers and export companies to visit Vietnamese agricultural products, learn, share production experiences and export them to EU for application and duplication in regulated places. Similar event.
The project activities provide success stories and pictures of ‘real people’ to inform about EU regulations related to plant health and food safety and how the production chain is organized for export to the EU.
In order to deploy a series of standard models, Mr. Hong said that he conducted an investigation and survey of the current status, and identified the limiting factors, the risks of the production area and the main causes of non-compliance with the regulations. EU phytosanitary and food safety regulations for export.
After a clear definition of the orientation of the organization and the management, training documents for partners in the production chain were developed and thus model construction plans were implemented with on-site guidance and training and under the supervision of consultants. During the implementation process, there are images and videos to collect information and data related to the model building to facilitate reporting and evaluation of the effectiveness and impact of the model.
Risks that could lead to breaches of EU regulations:
+ Lack of knowledge and experience in building and maintaining pest-free planting areas
+ Spray many times with chemical pesticides/crops
+ Use of pesticides not on Vietnam’s list
Use of pesticides not authorized by the EU
Risk of toxic chemical contamination.