On 22 May, EuroCham participated in a consultation workshop organised by the Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality (STAMEQ) under the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST).
The workshop, held at STAMEQ’s office in Hanoi, brought together representatives from various ministries, business associations like EuroCham, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), and AmCham, as well as industry bodies like Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).
EuroCham’s Head of Hanoi Office and External Relations Manager Van Nguyen, along with Cosmetics Sector Committee representative Dao Thi Nguyet Minh and Head of the Technical Working Group of the Nutritional Foods Group Nguyen Hong Uy, engaged in constructive dialogue with STAMEQ officials and other attendees.
One of the key issues highlighted by EuroCham was a proposed requirement for all companies to inform MOST’s quality database of their product specifications. While STAMEQ cited the need to control quality and prevent falsification by some smaller companies, EuroCham echoed concerns raised by VCCI, emphasising the lack of clear definitions and the potential for creating unnecessary administrative burdens.
For nutrition products with 40-50 quality criteria, identifying “key” criteria could be challenging. Instead, EuroCham advocated for a more streamlined approach, where companies can update product specifications in the database as changes occur, without having to submit information to multiple authorities.
STAMEQ’s Acting Director General, Ha Minh Hiep, acknowledged the concerns raised and committed to considering clearer requirements and ensuring the database allows for easy updates by companies.
Another issue addressed was a potential conflict between the draft law and Decree 111/2021/ND-CP on product labelling. EuroCham’s representative provided a legal analysis, highlighting the need to revise or remove Clause 1, Article 23 of the Law on Product Quality to avoid overlapping regulations.
After consultation with the Ministry of Justice’s representative, the Director General of STAMEQ considered to carefully review and address the identified conflict, demonstrating a willingness to incorporate feedback from industry stakeholders.
As Vietnam continues to refine its regulatory landscape, EuroCham’s participation at the workshop ensured that the concerns of European enterprises operating in Vietnam were heard.
