Teleconference seeks to remove technical barriers for agricultural products

A teleconference was held on June 3 aiming to remove technical barriers faced by businesses seeking to promote the consumption of agricultural produce amid the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dragon fruit is one of Vietnam's key farm produce exports

Delegates at the event said that since the beginning of the year, businesses have met difficulties in consuming agricultural products in terms of animal and plant quarantine, food hygiene and safety, regulations on packaging, labeling, and origin traceability.

The United States has recently launched an anti-​dumping investigation into honey products imported from Vietnam, while China has also applied measures with the view of controlling the import of frozen goods due to COVID-19 concerns.

Nguyen Nhu Tiep, director of the National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department (NAFIQAD), pointed out that local farm produce exports faced the biggest challenge in terms of the consumption when being exported to China.

Tiep advised domestic firms to closely abide by food processing guidelines set out by the Ministry of Health, as well as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization.

Delegates underlined the need to provide businesses and localities with timely information on trade barriers in specific import markets, and instruct them to develop disease-free areas and ensure origin traceability.

At the event Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, deputy director of the Plant Protection Department, also revealed that the Chinese side has recently permitted the temporary export of sweat potatoes to their market.