Vietnamese instant noodles removed from EU list of food safety control

However, the bloc has decided to maintain the frequency of 20% inspection for the products at its border gate, stated the European Commission (EC) in its Official Journal on June 12.

It has also adjusted the frequency of border inspection for several other Vietnamese fruit such as dragon fruit, chili, okra, and durian. Accordingly, the frequency of inspection at border gates for Vietnamese dragon fruit will be increased from 20% to 30%.

Chili products will be subject to 50% control and require to have a certificate of food safety inspection and testing results of pesticide residues in the product in line with Annex 2.

Furthermore, the EU has maintained its 50% control at border gates for Vietnamese okra products and require a food safety certificate and testing results of pesticide residues in the product.

Positive signal

Vietnamese Trade Counselor in Belgium and the EU Tran Ngoc Quan attributed the good news to Vietnam’s relentless efforts in enhancing the quality and safety of instant noodle exports to the bloc.

This is an important step forward, helping Vietnamese instant noodles easily access the EU market, which has huge potential with more than 450 million consumers, he said.

He recommended that Vietnamese businesses keep improving product quality to meet the increasing requirements of the demanding market, warning exported products will be returned if they violate food safety control regulations again.

In January 2022, the EU put Vietnamese instant noodles products under the microscope in order to control ethylene oxide (EO) residues. This meant any Vietnamese instant noodle products imported into the EU must have a Health Certificate (HC) issued by an authorised Vietnamese agency.

In June 2023, the EU moved Vietnam’s instant noodles from Annex II, which requires a Health Certificate (HC) and 20% control at the border gate, to Annex 1, which only requires 20% control of the products at the EU border gates.