Challenges for exporters and the role of an independent third party

The EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) officially took effect on August 1, 2020, opening up great opportunities for Vietnamese products to access the second largest import market in the world. According to the International Trade Center (ITC), the EU market still has up to 49 percent of the capacity that Vietnamese products can penetrate.

However, in order to enter this fastidious market, companies have to prove that their products meet certain requirements and standards, such as CE certification. Domestic companies, therefore, are in need of independent, transparent, and reputable organizations for product certification.

TÜV Rheinland offers effective solutions to fulfill these companies’ demands. As an independent provider, TÜV Rheinland specializes in testing, inspecting, and certifying products as well as corporate management systems. After the testing process, based on reports from TÜV Rheinland, companies will be proactive in improving product quality and fulfilling documents for product certification to meet the standards and regulations of markets, partners and customers.

The TÜV Rheinland test mark ensures the safety and transparency of the product.

Established in 1872, TÜV Rheinland is now the worldwide leading organization with more than 20,000 specialists, 500 offices in 56 countries. TÜV Rheinland has supported thousands of businesses to improve the capabilities of their employees, ensuring product, systems, and processes safety.

In Vietnam, TÜV Rheinland established the head office in Ho Chi Minh City in 2001, with more than 185 experts and employees, serving businesses from all industries, especially key export sectors of Vietnam. The organization also built a complex of 3 modern laboratories and has significantly contributed to safety and quality control for Softlines (footwear, garment, toys etc.), Hardlines (outdoor and indoor furniture, building products etc.), and Electrical - Electronic products.

TÜV Rheinland's activities in Vietnam help businesses easily update the latest information on the requirements of each target market. The business will be supported by a network of seasoned experts around the globe, helping them to save time, money, and improve their competitive advantages.

Restart safely after Covid-19

TÜV Rheinland assists businesses to restart safely.

Amid the Covid-19 epidemic, Vietnam's export activities still showed positive signals, such as the increasing number of toys, sports equipment, electric cables, among others, exported to the U.S. However, the requirement of maintaining production in parallel with ensuring infection prevention also challenges companies.

Once again, to support clients, TÜV Rheinland launches a global campaign - Restart Safely - focusing on the most important services to ensure smooth business operations in the new normal: Occupational safety and health audits in the workplace; Testing protective materials; Certifying protecting products; Inspecting products. The testing, analyzing, and reviewing processes are all based on national, international standards and regulations or customers’ requirements.

Furthermore, TÜV Rheinland is one of a few organizations which received approval from Sedex to conduct social audits. Sedex Virtual Assessment is based on the SMETA catalogue and deals with criteria such as working conditions, environmental management, occupational safety and hygiene. In particular, during the Covid-19 pandemic, these innovative remote audits provide the necessary continuity to maintain and optimize social and ethical principles in companies and their suppliers.

Pursuing the mission of accompanying companies on their journey to enhance their competitive advantages and access the global market, TÜV Rheinland is continuously innovating, developing new technology and services, so as to support manufacturers more and more effectively.