Hanoi (VNA) – Though Vietnam is strong in producing and exportingagricultural products, it is facing a range of challenges and barriers inEurope due to new stringent food safety regulations.

TranNgoc Quan, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Departmentof European–American Markets, said once the European Union (EU)-Vietnam FreeTrade Agreement (EVFTA) takes effect, tariffs on Vietnamese farm produce will plungeto 0-5 percent over the next decade.

Vietnamis one of the important suppliers of farm produce to the EU, ranking 12th among all exporting nations and meeting 2.2 percent of the demand, aboveThailand, New Zealand, Malaysia and Canada.

However,the EU has paid due attention to food value, quality, safety and hygiene and hasissued stringent regulations on antibiotics, pesticides and tracing productorigin.

Arepresentative from the Vietnam Trade Office in the EU said the bloc will enhanceinspections and is drafting new regulations on quality standards for pepper andspices.

Quansaid thanks to economic recovery in several EU member states and increasing consumptiondemand, key products such as aquatic products, cashew nuts, fruits andvegetables, coffee and rubber maintained high export growth.

Hesuggested closely monitoring manufacturing process and making origin ofproducts transparent.

TranHuu Huynh, Director of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s LegalDepartment and Secretary General of the Vietnam International ArbitrationCentre, proposed the State issue an early warning system to help exportersaccess market information while agencies should offer proper policies,mechanisms and planning so agricultural firms and farmers can fully tap theirproduction capacity.-VNA