The establishment of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regional office for ASEAN in Vietnam reflects the US Government’s commitment to deepening the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership while affirming Vietnam’s vital role in global and regional supply chains, Mr. Mark Abdoo, FDA Associate Commissioner for Global Policy and Strategy, told Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Vo Van Hung during their meeting in Hanoi on July 29.

During the meeting, Deputy Minister Hung emphasized that the FDA’s new office in Hanoi will facilitate information exchange, enhance technical coordination, and ensure the timely resolution of emerging issues. He noted that the office would further strengthen the collaborative relationship between the FDA and Vietnamese regulatory agencies.

The deputy minister also proposed that both sides intensify cooperation in food safety risk assessment and management, inspection, and traceability. He further requested US support for human resource training to improve capacity in crop production, animal husbandry, and veterinary medicine to better meet international market standards.

Both parties shared a vision for building safe, transparent, and sustainable agricultural supply chains. The United States is currently a major supplier of raw materials for Vietnam’s food processing and animal feed industries. 

Mr. Hung also urged the FDA to continue coordinating with relevant agencies to facilitate smoother bilateral trade in agricultural products. This includes enhancing the exchange of information regarding technical requirements, new regulations, and management measures to help businesses proactively prepare.

Mr. Mark Abdoo confirmed that the FDA would relay all of Vietnam’s proposals to the relevant US Government authorities.

He highlighted the fact that the first US FDA office in the ASEAN region is placed in Vietnam demonstrates the US Government’s determination to expand and deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He noted that the US views Vietnam as a critical partner in global supply chains and a nation with a unique and strategic position within ASEAN.

The opening of this new office is an investment in modernizing regulatory systems, building a transparent and predictable legal framework, and creating a favorable environment for trade development, according to Mr. Abdoo.

Notably, the FDA proposed increasing cooperation in genomic sequencing for disease surveillance and food safety. According to Mr. Abdoo, Vietnam's deeper participation in international data-sharing networks will allow for real-time updates of genomic sequencing results, thereby supporting the rapid tracing of contamination sources or pathogens.

Furthermore, the FDA expressed a desire to expand cooperation in export product certification, the sharing of inspection data, and the capacity building of quality monitoring systems. These efforts aim to maintain a regular technical exchange mechanism, promoting agricultural trade between Vietnam and the US in a safe, transparent, and sustainable manner.