EU regulations relating to the import of agricultural and food products into the EU
Oct
The European Union (EU) currently consists of 27 member states with a population of about 450 million people. According to a World Bank report, the EU's GDP in 2021 reached 17 trillion USD, accounting for nearly 18% of the total global GDP, with GDP per capita reaching over 38,000 USD.
The EU is the world's third largest consumer market for agricultural, forestry and fishery products. Every year, the EU imports about 300 billion USD of agricultural products (Main agricultural products are 190 billion USD, seafood is 50 billion USD, wood and wood products are 59 billion USD (ITC, 2021). The EU forecasts that in 2024, the EU's agricultural export turnover will be about 345.14 billion USD, an increase of about 7.16%; the EU's agricultural import turnover will be about 323.4 billion USD, an increase of 6.44%. The import turnover of agricultural products from Vietnam to the EU is about 1.9% of the total import turnover of the EU, ranking 11th in the list of countries exporting agricultural products to the EU. The EU is one of the 4 largest agricultural export markets of Vietnam after the United States, China and ASEAN. The EU is a region with a large level of food consumption spending, the EU spends 1,000 billion Euros annually on food and beverages, accounting for 21.4% of total household spending. household (11.8% of expenditure on food, 6.8% on catering services, 1.6% on alcoholic beverages, and 1.2% on non-alcoholic beverages) (Eurostat, 2020).
For the EU, all Member States comply with the principle of “one entity – common Community”, according to the legal system, rights and obligations of the EU related to the treaties and international agreements that the EU participates in. EU member states establish a common customs union, a common market, free circulation of goods, apply a common trade policy, a common agricultural and fisheries policy.
The EU's legal system on food safety and animal and plant quarantine is complete, comprehensive and transparent, and is regularly amended and supplemented to ensure and protect human, animal, plant and environmental health. Regarding general food safety management, the EU takes an integrated approach to food safety covering all areas of the food and feed chain. Agricultural products and food commodities from third countries outside the EU accessing the market, the EU applies food safety management measures to different groups of products of animal and plant origin. For the group of products of plant origin, the EU applies an open and post-audit approach, different from the measures of other major agricultural and food import partners. For animal-origin products including both terrestrial and aquatic animals, there is a strict approach according to 3 criteria of countries, product groups and enterprises approved by the EU, along with national control programs implemented in parallel or some types, diseases, harmful microorganisms on both terrestrial and aquatic animals, control of toxic residues, antibiotics in animal products and programs to control microorganisms, heavy metal toxins for aquatic products, monitoring plans, epidemics for livestock, poultry... to be allowed to access the EU market.
Vietnam is one of four Asian countries that signed a Free Trade Agreement with the EU. The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) took effect from August 1, 2020, bringing many opportunities and contributing to promoting the growth of agricultural, forestry and fishery exports. However, in reality, it also poses many challenges for Vietnam's agricultural and forestry exports when tariffs are reduced but still facing difficulties related to technical barrier regulations (SPS, TBT, traceability, protection of origin names, geographical indications and new contents such as labor, information transparency, social responsibility, environment, sustainable development ...) in the EU market is increasingly increasing and being implemented more deeply. The trend of EU consumers is increasingly demanding of imported agricultural and forestry products in terms of food safety; environmental friendliness, carbon emission reduction, energy labeling, animal welfare; and demonstrate social responsibility and even accept some novel products from outside to access the EU market.
This report summarizes regulations related to animal and plant quarantine, food safety, labeling, packaging design, requirements related to procedures, registration, customs clearance procedures, etc. to help businesses, industry associations, and managers refer to. EU regulations are constantly updated, supplemented, and amended over time. The trend of amending and promulgating regulations related to food safety and animal and plant quarantine is increasingly strict and the level of control and strictness is increasing. Therefore, import-export enterprises need to refer to updated regulations and import partners in member countries to serve production, business, and import-export activities with the EU.
Wish your business success in the EU
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