A New Challenge for Vietnam’s Exports: EU Proposal Targets Cashews, Spices, and Durian

On August 9th, Mr. Ngo Xuan Nam, Deputy Director of the National Notification and Inquiry Point for Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures and Animal and Plant Quarantine of Vietnam, sent a document to the Plant Protection Department, the Animal Health Department, the Vietnam Vegetables and Fruits Association, the Vietnam Bee Association, and others regarding the European Union’s (EU) notification of a draft change in maximum residue levels (MRLs) for certain active substances. These changes are expected to come into effect from February 2025.

According to the proposal, the EU suggests reducing the MRLs for some active substances, with a significant decrease of up to a thousand times compared to the current regulations. They also aim to establish MRLs for certain commodities that previously had none, while also proposing to increase MRLs (relaxation) for others.

The four active substances with proposed changes in residue limits are: Zoxamide, Acetamiprid, Fenbuconazole, and Penconazole.

Several key export agricultural products of Vietnam to the EU will be affected by the proposed changes. For instance, the MRL for Zoxamide in herbs and spices (lettuce, spinach) will be reduced from 30 ppm to 0.01 ppm, a decrease of 3,000 times. Additionally, the Acetamiprid limit for bananas will be lowered from 0.4 ppm to 0.01 ppm, and for melons, pumpkins, and watermelons, it will be reduced from 0.2 ppm to 0.08 ppm.

The EU is also establishing MRLs for two new active substances, Fenbuconazole and Penconazole, for several of Vietnam’s key agricultural exports, including citrus fruits, cashews, and other nuts. The MRL for these commodities is set at a very low level of 0.01 ppm. Additionally, important Vietnamese products such as rice, coffee, spices, and honey will be subject to MRLs of 0.01 ppm, 0.05 ppm, and 0.05 ppm, respectively.

As these changes pertain to the MRLs of four active substances: Zoxamide, Fenbuconazole, Penconazole, and Acetamiprid, which are relevant to a variety of Vietnam’s agricultural food products currently being exported to the EU market, the Vietnam SPS Office requests that relevant organizations and individuals carefully review and provide feedback on these proposed changes. This information should also be communicated to other concerned organizations and individuals to ensure compliance with the EU’s regulations.