Member countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO) have issued and drafted a total of 130 notifications on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures related to food safety and animal and plant quarantine, which may affect Viet Nam’s agricultural exports.

According to the Import–Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the agency has received Official Letter No. 34/SPS-BNNMT dated January 9, 2026 from the Viet Nam SPS Office (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), requesting notification and comments on draft SPS regulations of WTO members issued in December 2025.

Accordingly, the Import–Export Department has processed 130 SPS notifications, including 64 draft measures and 66 legally binding regulations that have come into effect. These measures relate to food safety and animal and plant quarantine requirements of WTO members and may have an impact on Viet Nam’s agricultural exports.

For the Chinese market, the authorities have proposed establishing 807 maximum residue levels (MRLs) for 219 active pesticide ingredients remaining in food products.

In the European Union (EU), several notable developments include clarification of the minimum information required in supplementary declarations of phytosanitary certificates concerning non-quarantine pests; the addition of new pests to the quarantine pest list; measures to prevent the introduction, establishment and spread of the pest Spodoptera frugiperda; proposals on maximum residue levels for certain active substances in or on specific products; and the issuance of Regulation (EU) 2025/2521 dated December 15, 2025, aimed at preventing the introduction and spread of Aromia bungii within EU territory.

Regarding the United States market, notified measures include the receipt of petitions related to pesticide residue tolerances for various commodities; the establishment of tolerance levels for residues of isocycloseram and glufosinate on multiple products; and the setting of a tolerance level for azoxystrobin residues on black pepper at 1 ppm.

Japan has amended the Decree guiding the implementation of the Fisheries Resource Protection Law. Canada has introduced new import requirements for certain animal feed materials imported from countries identified as posing a risk.

In the United Kingdom, authorities have set new maximum residue limits for certain active substances, adjusted tolerance thresholds for flubendiamide in tea, and expanded the list of products subject to increased border inspections.

Other markets have also introduced notable changes. South Korea has drafted amendments to its special law on imported food safety control. Taiwan (China) has issued standards on maximum residue levels of pesticide residues in food. Uruguay has drafted a proposal to ban all uses of chlorpyrifos, except for certain pest control purposes. The Russian Federation and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) have issued regulations related to importation, quarantine and circulation of goods. Malaysia has amended its Food Act of 1983, while Thailand has issued regulations on extraction solvents used in food production.

The Import–Export Department has requested relevant agencies and organizations to widely disseminate this information to the business community so that enterprises can proactively monitor developments, conduct research and formulate appropriate production and business plans. Comments on draft SPS notifications of WTO members (if any) should be sent to the Viet Nam SPS Office and the Import–Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) at the addresses specified in the official notice.

Source: Bao Cong Thuong