In a recent report, the Department of Industry and Trade of Lang Son province indicated that import and export activities through its borders to China have remained stable, achieving positive results. However, since the beginning of 2025, China has intensified inspections on the quality of imported fruits from all countries. This scrutiny particularly affects key Vietnamese export fruits passing through Lang Son, including durian, dragon fruit, and jackfruit.
The strict checks on the presence of gold (Au) or Cadmium in durians have notably reduced the export turnover of fruits to China during the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year. As Chinese authorities refine their quality management policies and tighten inspection and food safety measures, the Department of Industry and Trade of Lang Son has urged local departments involved in agricultural and fresh fruit exports to collaborate on specific protocols.
In a related effort, the Department of Industry and Trade of Binh Thuan has requested various sectors to disseminate this information widely among businesses, cooperatives, and production facilities engaged in the production, processing, and export of agricultural products and fresh fruits. This initiative aims to enhance the monitoring of care, harvesting, storage, packaging, and standardization processes to ensure that products meet the quality standards required by the importing market.
Looking ahead, the Binh Thuan department plans to continue monitoring and updating information from authorities regarding import and export activities through the northern border provinces. In case of any difficulties, they encourage relevant parties to reach out for discussions and propose timely support solutions.
Furthermore, Directive 09/CT-BCT, issued to promote balanced and sustainable trade, emphasizes ensuring harmonious benefits between Vietnam and its Free Trade Agreement (FTA) partners while adhering to international commitments. The Import-Export Department is tasked with researching and proposing amendments to legal documents related to the origin of goods, aligning these changes with the Law on Organization of the Government and the Law on Organization of Local Government in 2025.
These amendments are designed to ensure a smooth issuance of Certificates of Origin (C/O), avoiding interruptions and facilitating business operations. In collaboration with the General Department of Customs under the Ministry of Finance, the Import-Export Department will enhance supervision and inspection of origins, particularly for imported raw materials used for export production. This will be accomplished through the establishment of an information network and specialized data systems.
C/O issuing agencies are required to improve the efficiency of checking and verifying origin criteria according to specific product rules, as well as to propose measures to prevent illegal transshipment and protect the reputation of Vietnamese goods. The Legal Department will review existing legal documents and propose C/O issuance mechanisms that are suitable for the new situation, ensuring prompt handling of any violations related to origins.
Additionally, the Trade Remedies Department will continue to implement tasks assigned under Decision No. 824/QD-TTg from 2019, focusing on combating evasion of trade remedy measures and origin fraud, as outlined in the Ministry of Industry and Trade's action plan. Directive 09/CT-BCT also emphasizes the importance of administrative procedure reform and the application of digital transformation in managing the origins of goods.
The E-Commerce and Digital Economy Department is responsible for upgrading the eCoSys system, enhancing features to effectively deploy non-preferential C/O issuance, and adding data processing capabilities for review, inspection, and verification. This system aims to digitize statistical data from enterprises requesting C/O issuance, simplifying processes, reducing costs, and enhancing transparency.
To further streamline operations, the Import-Export Department will work with relevant units to propose solutions for simplifying administrative procedures in a modern and civilized manner, ensuring that businesses receive optimal service. C/O issuing agencies are also required to bolster fraud prevention by increasing inspections before and after C/O issuance, particularly for businesses experiencing a sudden spike in application numbers.
On-site inspections at production facilities will be conducted according to Circular No. 39/2018/TT-BCT to ensure compliance and enhance the reputation of exported goods. The Department of Foreign Market Development will direct Vietnamese Trade Offices abroad to research the origin regulations of host countries, providing vital information to the Import-Export Department to improve origin rules and prevent fraud.
The Department of Domestic Market Management and Development will coordinate with the Departments of Industry and Trade across provinces and cities to inspect and supervise the market, taking strict action against the trading of imported raw materials or goods of unclear origin used for export production. The Multilateral Trade Policy Department will actively engage with FTA partners to resolve any origin issues and protect the legitimate rights of Vietnamese enterprises.
These concerted efforts aim to not only reduce administrative burdens but also foster a favorable business environment, assisting businesses in restructuring production to meet international standards. As Vietnam navigates these challenges, the emphasis on quality and compliance may ultimately strengthen its position in the global market.
