EU Helps Vietnam Register Farm Produces

European experts are helping Vietnam register intellectual property for its agricultural products in the European Union (EU) and assisting the country in boosting export to member markets, said an official from the European Commission to Vietnam, the Thanh Nien News reported.

 

EU trade counselor Antonio Berenguer said that while Vietnam is well-known for its agro-food products like fish sauce, tea, coffee, rice, and seafood, its has yet to register products like Phu Quoc Fish Sauce and Highland Coffee.

 

The commission held a workshop March 5 about the legal framework of labeling, traceability and geographical indicators and rules of origin for agro-food products in the union. The workshop aimed to help local agricultural processors and producers adapt to new regulations on intellectual property in the EU.

 

Vietnam is now one of big farm produce exporters in the world with many outstanding products. The country now ranks second in the world’s coffee market in terms of volume and value, second for rice and seventh for tea, first for cashew nuts and fourth for rubber.

 

The EU is Vietnam’s largest importer of farm produce, consuming nearly US$7.1 billion in 2006 and US$8.5 billion in 2007. (Thanh Nien News Daily)