(Chinhphu.vn) – Through the system of receiving and responding torecommendations of businesses, the AEON Vietnam Co., Ltdwould like to requestfor an answer related to the implementation of conformity announcement for a number of products currently the company is trading such as a rice cooker, smoothie, coffee maker, food press...

In essence, these products are under the management of the Ministry of Science and Technology but are also affected by the newly promulgatedDecree No. 15/2018 / ND-CP. Specifically, the rice cooker must have a proper announcement of electrical equipment according to the Decision 3482 / QD-BKHCN, besides, they must be a self-disclosure of food contact materials and tools according to the Decree No. 15/2018. / ND-CP.

However, when the AEON Vietnam Co., Ltd. requests the documents to be published, the supplier only has a certificate of conformity issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology. The supplier feedbacks that when they import goods just to publish this allowance is enough and is allowed clearance.

The AEON Vietnam Co., Ltd would like to ask, do these products have to have additional self-disclosure statements about tools and materials for direct contact of food when being circulated on the market?

Regarding this issue, The Directorate of Standards, Metrology and Quality - Ministry of Science and Technology responded as follows:

Under the provisions of the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations, the Law on Quality of Products and Goods, Products and Goods such as "Electric rice cooker, blender, coffee maker, food press" are the products and goods at risk of unsafety (goods of group 2) are under the management of the Ministry of Science and Technology in terms of electrical safety and at the same time prescribed by the Law on Food Safety and Property. These products and goods are managed in terms of food safety under the management of the Ministry of Health.

Regulations on electrical safety management

Implementing the responsibilities stipulated in the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations, the Law on Products and Goods Quality, the Ministry of Science and Technology has issued the following documents:

- The National technical regulation No QCVN 4: 2009 / BKHCN

- The Circular No. 27/2012 / TT-BKHCN dated December 12, 2012 regulating the state inspection of imported goods quality under the management responsibility of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

- The Circular No. 07/2017 / TT-BKHCN dated June 16, 2017 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Circular No. 27/2012 / TT-BKHCN.

- The Circular No. 26/2012 / TT-BKHCN dated December 12, 2012 regulating the state inspection of quality of goods circulated in the market.

- The Circular No. 12/2017 / TT-BKHCN dated September 28, 2017 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Circular No. 26/2012 / TT-BKHCN.

- The Circular No. 28/2012 / TT-BKHCN dated December 12, 2012 regulating the announcement of standard conformity, announcement of conformity and method of conformity assessment with standards and technical regulations.

- The Circular No. 02/2017 / TT-BKHCN dated March 31, 2017 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Circular No. 28/2012 / TT-BKHCN.

Based on the provisions of the above documents, products of the AEON Vietnam Co., Ltd. must perform conformity certification, conformity announcement, conformity certification (CR) and labeling according to the law on goods labeling before circulation to the market.

About food safety management

Under the provisions of the Food Safety Law and documents guiding the implementation of this law (the Decree No. 15/2018 / ND-CP dated February 2, 2018 of the Government), the above products of the Company belong to a group  of "packaging materials, containing direct contact with food" (No. 4, 5 Appendix II List of food products / groups of products; goods under the management of the Ministry of Health issued with the Decree No. 15/2018 / ND-CP).Therefore, these products must apply management measures in accordance with the regulations on food safety and management regulations for goods. Group 2 is issued by the Ministry of Health. Specifically:

- Production and business organizations and individuals (export / import) must self-announce products according to the provisions of Article 5 of the  Decree No. 15/2018 / ND-CP.

- Technical bases for the announcement are the results of food safety testing issued by the laboratory designated by the Ministry of Health or accredited laboratories in accordance with ISO 17025 standards including details of safetystipulated in the National Technical Regulation on hygiene and safety for metal packages and tools that come into direct contact with food (QCVN 12-3: 2011 / BYT) issued together with the Circular No. 34 / 2011 / TT-BYT on August 30, 2011 of the Ministry of Health.

Currently, the List of food safety testing organizations designated by the Ministry of Health is published publicly on the Ministry of Health's Web Portal at: www.vfa.gov.vn. In the List of testing organizations designated by the Ministry of Health, there are a number of qualified organizations designated by the Ministry of Science and Technology as conformity assessment organizations (testing / certification / inspection) above products with QCVN 4: 2009 / BKHCN and Revised 1: 2016 QCVN 4: 2009 / BKHCN as Quality Measurement Technical Standards Centers 1, 2, 3. Therefore, the Vietnam AEON Co., Ltd, can choose these organizations to reduce costs when conducting conformity assessment and quality announcement.

For detailed information regarding food safety management regulations for these products and goods in the field of Food Safety, the Vietnam AEON Co., Ltd. is requested to contact the FoodSafety Department(Ministry of Health)  directly for guidance.

From January 1 to May 15 this year, tra fish exports to the EU reached 105.2 million USD, up 31.5 percent against the same period of 2018. 

The growth was largely attributed to four markets, namely the Netherlands, the UK, Germany and Belgium.

From the beginning of the year to mid-May, tra fish exports to the Netherlands rose by 12.2 percent, the UK 59.4 percent, Germany 61.6 percent and Belgium 63.8 percent.

In the period, tra fish was listed among the most popular white fish in Europe, making up 9 percent of the region’s white fish market. Each year, the EU consumes nearly 3 million tonnes of white fish, 89 percent of which is imported.

In the near future, with tax advantages from the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), tra fish exports to the EU are expected to see positive growth.

Demand for tra fish imports from central and eastern European countries is also increasing. A large proportion of tra fish imported by the Netherlands and Germany has been shipped to central and eastern European nations which do not have big import ports.

Tra fish products labeled by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) are likely to be favoured in the European market.

To secure a firm foothold in the market, the tra fish sector needs to strengthen the management and control of food quality and safety, experts suggested.