EU, China, and Middle East-Africa Issue 254 Food Safety Notifications Affecting Vietnamese Agricultural Exports

Vietnam's key export markets are simultaneously tightening food safety and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards, placing new compliance pressure on Vietnamese producers and exporters, according to information presented at a government press conference on 16 September 2026.

Mr Ngo Xuan Nam, Deputy Director of the Vietnam SPS Office under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, told reporters that from the beginning of the year to 15 September, the EU, China, and the Middle East-Africa region had collectively issued 254 notifications on food safety and animal and plant quarantine. Of these, 150 were draft notifications and 104 were already in effect.

European Union: Pesticide Residue Limits to Fall Sharply

The EU accounted for 90 of the notifications — 27 in draft form and 63 already in force — a slight decrease from 92 issued during the same period the previous year. Nevertheless, officials warned that many of the changes could directly affect Vietnamese agricultural products and food.

Seven EU draft announcements propose revisions to maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides across a range of products including tomatoes, mangoes, peppers, bell peppers, tea, and cucumbers, with some active ingredients expected to be reduced to levels of just 0.01–0.05 ppm. Mr Nam singled out profenofos and fenpropathrin as ingredients requiring particular attention, noting that current Vietnamese limits for some products are significantly higher than the EU's proposed thresholds. Shipments that do not adjust pesticide use practices in time could be at risk of being blocked at the EU border, he cautioned.

The EU is also continuing official controls on four Vietnamese plant-derived products under Regulation 2019/1793, and is updating pest management requirements to include citrus fruit borers, also known as grapefruit borers. Relevant draft regulations are expected to be published in October and will come into force 20 days after publication in the EU Official Journal.

On a more positive note for some exporters, the EU plans to add certain stable, low-risk processed products — including cereal products, potato chips, processed or preserved fruits and vegetables, sauces, spices, and confectionery — to a list of items exempt from official border control checks.

For animal products, the EU is considering lowering residue limits for diazinon in pork fat, poultry meat and offal, and some types of milk, while also adjusting residue levels in the liver and kidneys of pigs, cattle, sheep, and goats. The market is additionally reviewing the list of countries permitted to export animals and animal products for food to the EU.

China: Registration Codes and Traceability Under Tighter Scrutiny

China issued 34 SPS notifications in the same period, nine fewer than the corresponding period last year. Of these, 31 are in draft form and three have already entered into force.

A key measure is Decree No. 280 of the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), effective from 1 June, which requires 17 food categories to be registered through a process recommended by the competent authority of the exporting country, and extends the scope of regulation to food storage facilities abroad. Exporters must also register and accurately declare their code number during customs clearance; using the wrong code, an expired code, or submitting inconsistent documentation can result in goods being held at the border.

China has also issued a list of 21 alien species and groups of organisms subject to control and requiring periodic risk reviews, and has established standards for controlling polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) across the production of grains, meat, seafood, dairy products, and oils and fats, with particular focus on heating, smoking, frying, and baking stages.

Middle East and Africa: Heaviest Volume of Notifications

The Middle East and Africa region issued the highest number of notifications in the period, with 130 in total — 92 in draft form and 38 already in effect. New requirements focus on pesticide residues, microorganisms, heavy metals, traceability, Halal standards, and product labelling.

Jordan has introduced standards for rice that include residue control, microbiological control, Halal compliance, and Arabic-language labelling. Morocco has increased hygiene and traceability requirements for spices and herbs. Kenya has set limits for grain-based beverages, requiring total aflatoxin levels not to exceed 10 micrograms per kilogram and mandating that no Salmonella bacteria be detected.

Vietnam's Response

Mr Nam said the Vietnam SPS Office is updating SPS notifications daily in Vietnamese and distributing early warnings to management agencies, local authorities, industry associations, and businesses. Inquiry points have also been established in 34 provinces and cities to support an automated early warning and online lookup system for import market regulations.