'How can we open the market more and export more?', Director of the Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development Nguyen Nhu Tiep asked.

Consumers are increasingly interested in "how products are made"

On May 23, in Hanoi, the Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development (NAFIQPM) held the first meeting of the Negotiation Team; Open and develop agricultural, forestry and fishery markets under the Steering Committee for Quality, Food Safety and Market Development.

Mr. Nguyen Nhu Tiep, Director of NAFIQPM, Head of the Negotiation, Opening and Development of Agricultural, Forestry and Fisheries Markets chaired the meeting.

The meeting was attended by members of the Working Group according to Decision No. 1064/QD-BNN-CCPT dated April 12, 2024 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Currently, there are 13 countries and territories requiring a list of seafood processing and export facilities.

At the meeting, Ms. Pham Thi Lam Phuong, representative of the Import-Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) said that in the first 3 months of 2024, our country's export turnover of agricultural, forestry and fishery products reached 12.25 billion USD, increase 26.8% over the same period in 2023 and account for about 13.2% of the country's total export turnover.

Currently, Vietnam's agricultural, forestry and fishery product exports to markets are also facing some difficulties such as: Import demand of Vietnam's major markets such as the US, EU, and UK is trending down due to Inflation is high in most countries, unemployment rates are increasing, and the macroeconomy of many countries is still unstable.

Consumers in all markets are increasingly interested not only in the origin and quality of food, but also in how products are made, or how businesses treat workers, the environment and society.

Uncertainties related to regional and global geopolitical tensions continue to develop complicatedly; Input prices of imported materials are still high.

Vietnamese agricultural products exported are mainly frozen goods, raw or semi-processed materials, and high-value deeply processed products are still few. For seafood products to the EU, since 2017, Vietnam has received a "yellow card" warning from the European Commission on IUU.

"In particular, competition between export markets may increase when many countries are interested in signing and joining FTAs such as the ASEAN - Canada Free Trade Agreement; starting from August 2022 brings advantages to suppliers such as Indonesia or the Philippines; or the fact that some economies have expressed interest in joining the CPTPP Agreement...", Ms. Phuong emphasized.

Grapefruit exports to Japan are the most difficult

This is information shared by Mr. Nguyen Quang Hieu, Deputy Director of the Plant Protection Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) at the meeting.

Also according to Mr. Hieu, in the coming time, the Plant Protection Department will continue to be active in negotiations and market opening.

For the Chinese market, the Plant Protection Department will prioritize negotiations to open fresh coconut and frozen durian products, while continuing to work to complete the draft Protocol for jackfruit.

Jackfruit is a traditional product that is officially exported, but the Protocol must be signed according to the roadmap to standardize regulations agreed with Chinese Customs. Jackfruit will be followed by longan, lychee, and rambutan.

As for medicinal herbs, China has sent a draft Protocol. The Plant Protection Department is reviewing and collecting comments from relevant parties and promoting signing. However, this item has its own characteristics, so there are still many difficulties related to other units.

For the US market, after coconut products, passion fruit will continue to be opened. However, the Plant Protection Department is currently proposing that the United States expand additional treatment measures, based on measures recognized by other countries, including: Cold treatment for Vietnamese longans exported to USA; hot steam treatment for mango and dragon fruit; Methyl Bromide treatment of fabrics.

“Exporting grapefruit to the Japanese market is the most difficult, because Japan requires a verification experiment to be performed without reusing experiment results from other countries. This experiment has 4 phases, lasting about 1 year. That's why it will take more time, and it is expected to be difficult to complete this year," Mr. Hieu emphasized.

Exporting grapefruit to the Japanese market is the most difficult, because Japan requires a verification experiment to be performed without reusing experimental results from other countries.

In addition, Mr. Hieu also shared some difficulties in negotiations, current market opening for some crop products such as: Plant quarantine regulations of countries change frequently and become more and more strict; Countries tend to apply many new non-tariff measures on agricultural products.

The pest risk assessment process is lengthy, consuming a lot of time, effort and money. Lack of large-scale concentrated growing areas that meet export standards.

Producers and exporters have limited understanding; and are not properly aware of the importance of complying with the requirements of the importing country...

In particular, Mr. Hieu wondered "about products with export potential in the future", as well as the ability of producers and businesses to meet import requirements.

Which products and markets should you prioritize?

Regarding the opening of seafood products to countries with large import demand, Mr. Dang Van Vinh, Deputy Head of Food Safety Department, NAFIQPM informed; Currently, there are 25 countries and territories requiring appraisal and certification of food safety for exported aquatic products; There are 13 countries and territories requiring a list of seafood processing and export establishments.

Mr. Vinh also shared some more problems that Vietnam's seafood exports are facing in main import markets. For example, in the EU, currently, only export processing facilities on the list recognized by the EU are allowed to export.

The EU has strict requirements for imported products (on certificates, control along the whole chain), requiring tuna products soaked in brine to only be used for the canning industry...

In the Brazilian market, this market regulations only allow the use of phosphate additives outside the ice coating for aquatic products (including fish and shrimp).

Director of NAFIQPM Nguyen Nhu Tiep: Agricultural export turnover is more than 53 billion USD but is still modest compared to the potential and advantages. Photo: Hong Tham.

There are no regulations on heat treatment according to each shrimp disease indicator, but general regulations on heat treatment for each type of product...

Or in the Saudi Arabian market, Saudi Arabia is currently imposing a temporary suspension on all Vietnamese farmed seafood.

Director of NAFIQPM Nguyen Nhu Tiep shared that in recent times, it is not that we have not been able to access many markets. We have exported agricultural, forestry and fishery products to many countries and territories. Export turnover earned more than 53 billion USD, but this number is still modest compared to our potential and advantages.

"Some markets mentioned here are just going around and around", negotiating and opening up in some other markets such as Japan, the Middle East... still have many difficulties, Mr. Tiep emphasized.

According to Mr. Tiep, in addition to large markets, traditional markets need to pay more attention to potential markets, niche markets and even the domestic market, which still has a lot of potential.

Mr. Tiep said that in the coming time, we will first develop a Draft assigning specific tasks to each member of the Negotiation Team to open and develop agricultural, forestry and fishery markets, in order to promote strengths according to the functions and tasks of each unit.

In the long term, move towards building market information data, important in which is information about market capacity, market demand and market tastes...

Besides, strengthen communication and promotion work to increase the reputation of our agricultural, forestry and fishery products.

In addition, to promote trade promotion, the Agriculture and Industry and Trade sectors need close coordination and need to develop a project to coordinate and exchange, in order to use trade promotion funds most effectively.

“Currently, on international media channels, there is almost no promotion of the image of Vietnamese agricultural products. If Thailand can do it, why can't we?", Director of the Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development Nguyen Nhu Tiep said.

Source: Hong Tham - Agriculture Newspaper