A series of new SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) regulations from Australia, Poland, China, the EU, and various other markets are preparing to take effect in June 2026. Some measures will be applied as early as June 7 and June 17, forcing agricultural, plant breeding, and food export enterprises to conduct immediate reviews to avoid being caught off guard at border gates.

According to the Vietnam SPS Office, during the second half of May 2026, WTO members issued 44 new SPS notifications related to plant quarantine, food safety, and disease control. Among them, several regulations directly impact Vietnam’s export goods.

Australia sharply tightens quarantine on plant breeding materials from Vietnam

In this round of notifications, Australia is the nation issuing the highest number of measures with the most direct impact on Vietnamese export goods, particularly within the field of plant propagation materials.

Specifically, starting June 17, 2026, Australia will apply or expand four sets of new regulations regarding certain diseases affecting banana plants, the ginger family (Zingiberaceae), the fungus causing Sudden Oak Death, and viruses affecting pepper plants. Vietnam is categorized into the group of nations facing high risks regarding some of these diseases.

This means that many types of plant cuttings, non-tissue cultured propagation materials exported from Vietnam to Australia must be placed in an Australian Government quarantine facility for a minimum duration of 12 months, and even up to 15 months in specific cases. They will only be permitted for circulation upon receiving a negative test result.

For tissue-cultured products, enterprises must provide additional negative PCR test results prior to export.

Regarding the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa specifically, Vietnam is classified into a lower-risk group, but must still provide an additional declaration on the Phytosanitary Certificate confirming that the shipment and the mother plant originate from a country completely free of this bacterium.

Enterprises exporting plant cuttings, tissue cultures, and propagation materials to Australia need to check the list of regulated host plant genera immediately, contact designated laboratories to conduct PCR testing prior to packaging, and update the supplementary declaration procedures on the phytosanitary certificates.

Poland applies new residue standards to multiple fruit varieties

Another development worth monitoring comes from Poland. On April 30, 2026, this country enacted an emergency measure taking effect on June 7, 2026, regulating separate Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for four plant protection active ingredients in food imported from third countries: glufosinate, thiophanate-methyl, carbendazim, and benomyl.

This is a unilateral emergency measure applied independently by Poland while the EU has not yet enacted a corresponding unified regulation, and it will be maintained for 12 months or until the EU reaches a decision.

The catalog of products requiring compliance encompasses multiple traditional export commodities from Vietnam to the European market, such as mangoes, papayas, grapes, tomatoes, eggplants, beans, and citrus fruits. The specific maximum MRLs are carbendazim and Benomyl (calculated as carbendazim): Maximum 0.01 mg/kg. thiophanate-methyl: Maximum 0.01 mg/kg. glufosinate: Maximum 0.03 mg/kg.

Poland explained that these active ingredients have been banned or denied renewal in the EU due to risks of reproductive toxicity, mutagenicity, and endocrine disruption. The Codex Alimentarius also abolished all MRLs for the carbendazim/benomyl/thiophanate-methyl group since November 2025.

In reality, carbendazim is still utilized in tropical fruit and vegetable cultivation across many production regions in Vietnam. Enterprises exporting to Poland and the broader EU market need to review their post-harvest treatment processes and conduct internal residue testing prior to export, rather than waiting until shipments are detained at the border gates.

Other markets to monitor

China has recently updated its draft standard for the food additive Capsanthin, a red coloring agent extracted from chili peppers.

The draft adds limits for lead and arsenic (not exceeding 1.0 mg/kg each), total organic solvent residues not exceeding 50 mg/kg, and a capsaicin content not exceeding 0.02%. This is critical information for enterprises manufacturing, processing, and exporting chili powder, chili extracts, and food additives to China.

The European Union recently authorized additional new feed additives such as L-threonine, L-tryptophan, L-cysteine, and several microbial preparations, taking effect at the end of May 2026.

This is a positive signal for businesses manufacturing animal feed, practicing aquaculture, or importing raw materials from the EU. However, enterprises must satisfy additional requirements regarding occupational safety, endotoxin control, and product labeling.

Thailand enacted and immediately applied Notification No. 469 on hermetically sealed packaging foods on May 19, 2026. This mandates strict control over thermal processing and the risk of Clostridium botulinum, directly affecting canned goods and packaged processed food commodities exported to this market.

Japan is gathering public feedback (prior to July 28, 2026) regarding revisions to testing methodologies for enzyme additives Fructosyl Transferase and Glutaminase, largely affecting enterprises manufacturing and exporting industrial food additives.

The East African Community issued a series of draft new standards for maize grains, fresh bananas, rabbit meat, and bacon. This serves as a niche market but requires attention if enterprises are expanding exports into this region. The deadlines for comments are mostly prior to July 26–27, 2026.

3 actions enterprises must take immediately

According to recommendations from the Vietnam SPS Office, during June, enterprises need to concentrate on three key tasks:

First, for plant cutting exporters to Australia need to promptly verify whether your commodities fall under the regulated host plant genera catalog, and contact plant quarantine authorities to update the supplementary declaration template on certificates before the June 17, 2026 deadline.

Second, tropical fruit and vegetable exporters to Poland and the EU need to conduct internal testing for residues of carbendazim, thiophanate-methyl, and glufosinate on shipments. This measure takes effect on June 7, 2026, without a transition period.

Third, monitor the official portal at www.spsvietnam.gov.vn to update detailed contents and original texts of each notification, or contact the Vietnam SPS Office for assistance in looking up specific product directories and technical requirements.

Source: VnBusiness