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Food processors to study US laws
Viet Nam food processors and exporters must study changes in the FDA Food Safety Modernisation Act conducted by the US Food and Drug Administration and measures to avoid common mistakes.
The issue was breached at a seminar on exports to the US and requirements of food and pharmaceutical safety management agencies held by the Viet Nam Trade Promotion Agency and the US Registral Corp in the capital yesterday.
David Lennarz, former technical expert at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and vice president of the US Registral Corp, said since early this year, every food companies must re-register with the FDA every two years. Re-registration would be required in the fourth Q4 of every year. Any companies located outside the US would continue to be required to designate a representative in the US so the FDA could communicate with them under the anti-terrorism law of 2002.
With the FDA Food Safety Modernisation Act, the FDA has the right to inspect any food processors and food packaging companies who are found involved in causing bad health or death amongst humans and animals.
Under the act, the FDA will have the right to order companies to recall contaminated food.
Experts noted that any local food processors and exporters to the US will be required by the FDA to outline hazard analysis, prevention and control of risks and changes in operation every three years.
Small businesses may be exempt or face less strict requirements and will be defined as those with revenues of less than $500,000 per year.
To make Vietnamese commodities, pharmaceuticals and beverages eligible for export to the US, importers are required to confirm the safety of all shipments while the FDA issues safety certificates for each.
Ta Hoang Linh, deputy director of the Trade Promotion Agency, said after the US and Viet Nam normalised relations and signed bilateral agreements, trade ties have rapidly developed. In 2011, Viet Nam's exports to the US brought revenue of US$16.9 billion or a year-on-year increase of 16.8 per cent and accounting for 17.5 per cent of the country's total export turnover
However, Viet Nam's enterprises are still coming to terms with US regulations on export goods.
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