Jul. 5 – In an afternoon news conference on June 30, 2011, Deputy of Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Diep Kinh Tan said Circular No. 13/2011/TT-BNNPTNT would guide the inspection of food safety resources and vegetable imports effective from July 01, 2011.
The Circular clarified that if the origin of plants and goods are not registered with authorities in Vietnam, they will not be allowed to be imported into the country. Goods imported into Vietnam must come from nations which the competent authorities in Vietnam recognize fully meet the requirements for food safety. Goods should also be packaged in the appropriate way, have secondary labeling in Vietnamese, or are labeled in Vietnamese and have been tested and certified as safe.
Imported goods which are processed and pre-packaged before circulation must also register according to the published rules.
Deputy Minister Diep Kinh Tan said that Vietnam is doing so in accordance with WTO commitments, and that the new policy also shows the equality of trade among countries.
Goods exported by Vietnam must comply with many regulations, including a rigorous testing process.
Deputy Director of quality management of agricultural, forestry and fisheries, Nguyen Nhu Tiep said that, traceability is an important basic requirement. According to Mr. Nguyen Nhu Tiep, up to June 30, the last of four countries that have registered with the authorities in Vietnam were the United States, Canada, Australia and Thailand.
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