Vietnam agricultural exports face stricter global food safety regulations

Vietnam faces increasing regulatory challenges in its agricultural and seafood exports due to new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures from WTO member nations. Between August 1 and 15, 2026, various updates were issued, including new food additive and pesticide residue regulations in the United States, adjusted maximum residue levels in the United Kingdom, and changes to contaminant limits in the European Union. Additionally, South Korea has added sesame, perilla, almonds, and cashews to its mandatory allergen labeling list.

In the European Union, several Vietnamese exports have faced warnings or rejections, including products with undeclared allergens, incorrect animal DNA labeling, and contamination issues such as Salmonella in frog legs and Vibrio cholerae in basa fish fillets. The seafood industry has seen a rise in rejected shipments, with VASEP reporting 15 warned or rejected lots from the US, EU, and Japan in July 2026, up from 10 in June.

Experts emphasize that maintaining export value requires rigorous quality control throughout the entire supply chain—from breeding and feed to slaughtering and distribution. Establishing multi-layered control mechanisms is considered urgent to prevent food safety risks from spreading through the supply chain.