Safe Food Certificate Compulsory for Vietnam Rice Exporters to Russia

Russia has informed almost all of the Vietnamese broken rice exporters to Russia must get safe and hygienic food certificates from the Assessing and Technology Transferring Company under the Vietnam Science and Technology Institute, said the Vietnam Food Association (VFA).

 

According to a recent document of the Russian Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Services (VPSS) sent to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), the decision, which is based on the agreement signed May 7-11 of 2007 in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, is valid from December 1 of 2007.

 

Information of pesticides and gene changes used during rice cultivation processes must also be detailed, the document showed.

 

As of the middle of December 2007, Vietnamese companies have exported 4.443 million tons of rice worth $1.311 billion, said the VFA. 

 

The total shipment volume is estimated to reach 4.53 million by the year’s end, valued at $1.5 billion, up by 3 per cent in terms of volume but up 15 per cent in value, thanks to higher export prices at global market.

 

Vietnam is expected to ship 4.5 million tons of rice in 2008, with export prices rising to $340 per ton of 5 per cent broken rice and $320 per ton of 25 per cent of broken rice.

 

VFA has asked for permission from authorized bodies to manage over rice export contracts in order to ensure national food security. (Vietnamnet)