How can Vietnamese agricultural exporters meet sustainable standards?

A growing wave of warnings from major importing markets is placing Vietnamese agricultural exports under increasing pressure to meet stricter quality standards. To maintain their competitiveness and credibility, the agricultural sector must strengthen traceability, comply with food safety regulations, and establish standardized, sustainable production practices.

In recent years, a growing number of Vietnamese agricultural products have been flagged by regulatory authorities in importing markets for failing to meet quality standards. In Taiwan (China), the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) imposed 100% inspections on all imported cauliflower shipments from Vietnam between August 26 and September 25, 2025. This followed three previous consignments that failed border inspections. Fresh durian has also come under stricter scrutiny after 13 shipments were found to violate regulations on pesticide residues and heavy metal contamination.

In response, the Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei advised exporters to strengthen quality control to reduce the risk of shipments being rejected or destroyed. At the national level, the Vietnamese Government issued Official Dispatch No. 150/CD-TTg in late August 2025. It called for stronger traceability systems and stricter measures to ensure the quality and reputation of agricultural, forestry, and fishery exports. The directive also requires authorities to strictly penalize the use of prohibited chemicals. In addition, it calls for fully addressing the European Union’s recommendations on pesticide residue management, particularly in localities that have been repeatedly flagged, including Dong Thap Province, Lam Dong Province, and Ho Chi Minh City.

China, Vietnam’s largest export market for agricultural products, has also continued to issue warnings regarding Vietnamese agricultural and seafood exports. Although the situation has improved, Nong Duc Lai, Vietnam’s Trade Counselor in China, noted that the warning rate remains relatively high. This indicates that while domestic awareness campaigns, inspections, and enforcement have been strengthened, they have not yet been sufficient to address the root causes of the problem.

According to the Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, importing countries are expected to continue tightening measures against trade fraud. They are also imposing stricter requirements for traceability and food safety. As a result, Vietnamese agricultural exports face not only increasingly demanding technical standards but also a growing number of new trade barriers.

Faced with mounting pressure from export markets, many experts believe that comprehensive quality management is the key to securing the long-term competitiveness of Vietnamese agricultural products. At the local level, however, the management of growing area codes and packing facilities still faces significant challenges. In Lam Dong Province, for example, the practice of sourcing produce from unregistered growing areas has directly affected the quality of exported durians. This has increased the risk of import warnings and the suspension of export codes. In many areas, production records are still maintained merely as a formality. They lack the transparency needed for effective traceability.

By contrast, An Giang Province has taken proactive steps by promoting the issuance of growing area codes alongside the adoption of digital technologies. Building centralized databases, encouraging the use of electronic production logs, and upgrading packing facilities to meet international standards are considered essential measures. These help comply with increasingly stringent import requirements. They also lay the foundation for a transparent management system that enhances the competitiveness of agricultural exports.

From the business perspective, industry leaders emphasize that quality control should not be viewed as a requirement for a single export market but as a universal production standard. The success of Vietnam’s banana exports illustrates this approach. By maintaining strict control over pesticide residues and implementing standardized procedures from seedling selection and cultivation to packaging, Vietnamese bananas captured an average 37–42% share of China’s banana import market during the first half of 2025. This allowed them to surpass the Philippines, which had previously held a 70–80% market share.

According to the Director of Huy Long An Co., Ltd., exporters must exercise absolute caution regarding chemical residues. Even a slight exceedance of permitted limits can trigger an immediate negative response from buyers. This view is shared by the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association. It maintains that consistent product quality is the decisive factor in strengthening the international competitiveness of Vietnamese produce.

Overall, achieving sustainable growth for Vietnam’s agricultural exports requires more than the efforts of individual businesses. It demands close coordination among government agencies, local authorities, farmers, and enterprises. Production chains must be subject to rigorous oversight and supported by digital management technologies. At the same time, both producers and exporters must strengthen their commitment to quality standards. Only by establishing a comprehensive quality management ecosystem can Vietnamese agricultural products overcome increasingly stringent technical barriers and secure a sustainable position in global markets.