Possessing some of the most stringent regulations in the European Union (EU), the Italian market imposes a multi-tiered risk management process on imported agricultural and aquatic products. Vietnamese enterprises need to master SPS standards and risk management roadmaps to avoid product rejections or blacklisting.

According to information from the Vietnam Trade Office in Italy, to protect domestic consumers, Italy enforces numerous strict technical regulations and Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) risk management procedures for Vietnamese agricultural products, food, and seafood exported to the Italian market.

STRICT 3-TIER APPRAISAL PROCESS AT ITALIAN BORDER GATES

Regarding the legal framework, the Vietnam Trade Office in Italy states that all shipments of agricultural products, food, and seafood from Vietnam arriving at strategic seaports (Genoa, La Spezia, Trieste, Naples) or international airports (Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa) are subject to direct inter-agency control between the Customs Agency and the Italian Ministry of Health through the Border Control Posts (BCPs) system.

Customs clearance complies with two core EU framework regulations: Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 (General Food Law - requiring accurate traceability and legal liability assignment) and Regulation (EU) 2017/625 (Official Controls Regulation - specifying inspection mechanisms and methods).

When the shipment arrives at the port, the competent BCP authorities will conduct a 3-tier inspection:

First: Documentary check, verifying the validity and consistency among original certificates (phytosanitary, health, origin, seafood catch certificates, CHED declaration - Common Health Entry Document). Any discrepancy in HS codes, scientific names, or factory information will cause the shipment to face immediate clearance suspension.

Second: Identity check, through cross-checking container seals, batch codes, and actual labels against declaration records.

Third: Physical check and sampling. Analyzing key parameters such as pesticide residue limits (MRLs), mycotoxins, banned antibiotics, harmful microorganisms (Salmonella, E. coli), and heavy metals.

While awaiting test results (3 - 7 working days), goods must remain in quarantine storage under customs supervision. If a sample is non-compliant, BCPs will issue a decision to destroy or force re-exportation (costs borne by the cargo owner).

Concurrently, violation information will automatically trigger an alert on the EU's RASFF (Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed), placing the enterprise on a targeted surveillance list with physical inspection frequencies automatically raised to 20% - 50% in subsequent periods.

DETAILED STRINGENT TECHNICAL PARAMETERS BY COMMODITY SECTOR

To export successfully, the Vietnam Trade Office in Italy recommends that enterprises pay special attention to specific technical thresholds for each product group.

Specifically, for the agricultural produce and spices group (coffee, cashew nuts, pepper, fruits and vegetables), pesticide residues apply a default limit across the EU of 0.01 mg/kg if the active substance has no specific regulation.

For carbendazim, the EU has completely revoked authorization. Any shipment detected with residues exceeding the limit of quantification (LOD from 0.01 - 0.05 mg/kg depending on the group) is considered to contain banned substances.

The active substance acetamiprid (insecticide) applies specifically to cashew nuts (0.01 - 0.05 mg/kg), pepper (0.07 mg/kg), and green coffee beans (0.1 mg/kg).

The active substance deltamethrin (insecticide) applies to pepper and dried nuts (0.05 - 0.2 mg/kg); fresh fruits and vegetables (0.01 - 0.1 mg/kg).

Mycotoxins include: Aflatoxin applies to cashew nuts and pepper, with Aflatoxin B1 at a maximum of 5.0 µg/kg; total Aflatoxin content (B1 + B2 + G1 + G2) not exceeding 10.0 µg/kg.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) toxin applies to unroasted coffee beans at a maximum of 5.0 µg/kg; roasted/ground coffee at a maximum of 3.0 µg/kg; instant coffee at a maximum of 5.0 µg/kg.

For the seafood and aquatic products group, marine-harvested seafood (tuna, squid, octopus...) mandatorily requires a Catch Certificate issued by the Vietnam Fisheries Department. Italian Customs will cross-check data on the EU's digital platform CATCH. Any data discrepancy between fishing logbooks, port confirmations, and export declarations will lead to clearance halts.

Farmed seafood (brackish-water shrimp, pangasius...) is exempt from IUU Catch Certificates, but processing enterprises must hold an active EU Approval Number on the TRACES NT system (the EU's online platform used to manage, track, and issue electronic certificates for food safety, animal and plant health, and import-export processes into the EU market).

Banned chemicals and antibiotics are strictly zero-tolerance: Chloramphenicol, Nitrofuran metabolites (AOZ, AMOZ, AHD, SEM), and Malachite Green. Antibiotic groups Fluoroquinolones, Tetracyclines, and Sulfonamides must strictly comply with Regulation (EU) No 37/2010.

EFFECTIVE 4-STEP RISK MANAGEMENT PROCESS FOR ENTERPRISES

Faced with the above strict regulations, the Vietnam Trade Office in Italy notes that exporting enterprises should proactively implement a 4-step risk management process before and during trade operations:

Step 1: Lookup prior to signing contracts. Proactively access the EU Pesticides Database or the Vietnam SPS Office Information Portal (spsvietnam.gov.vn) to update the latest MRLs according to the shipment's HS code.

Step 2: Representative sample testing. Conduct sampling and testing of parameters at ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratories recognized by the EU.

Step 3: Pre-departure document auditing. Review the accuracy of Phytosanitary Certificates, C/O (for agricultural produce); or check approval code status on TRACES NT, matching C/O data, animal quarantine certificates, and CATCH certificates (for seafood).

Step 4: Border gate incident management. When clearance obstacles arise in Italy, immediately contact the Vietnam SPS Office and the Vietnam Trade Office in Italy to receive legal support and engage promptly with local competent authorities.

Source: VnEconomy