Regulations and standards applied domestically and internationally

Vietnamese Regulations

• QCVN 8-1:2011/BYT: National Technical Regulation on maximum levels of mycotoxin contamination in food.
• QCVN 8-2:2011/BYT: National Technical Regulation on maximum levels of heavy metal contamination in food.
• QCVN 8-3:2012/BYT: National Technical Regulation on microbiological contamination limits in food.
• Circular No. 50/2016/TT-BYT: Regulations on maximum residue limits (MRLs) of plant protection products in food.
• Relevant Vietnamese Standards (TCVN).

International Regulations

Key regulatory requirements across major export markets include:

• European Union (EU): Regulation (EC) No. 396/2005 on pesticide residues; Regulation (EU) 2023/915 on contaminants in food; Regulation (EC) No. 2073/2005 on microbiological criteria for foodstuffs; and other applicable requirements.
• United States (US): Code of Federal Regulations (40 CFR Part 180) governing pesticide residue tolerances, along with other relevant food safety regulations.
• China: GB 2763 for pesticide residue limits; GB 2761 for mycotoxin limits; GB 2762 for chemical contaminants; and GB 29921 for microbiological criteria in food.

What are the criteria for evaluating the quality of agricultural products?

Agricultural product quality assessment criteria encompass all quality attributes as perceived by consumers and those that meet consumer requirements. Agricultural Product Testing aims to determine whether agricultural products produced and brought to market comply with current objectives, standards, regulations, and market access requirements.

Key criteria for assessing agricultural product quality

Reference Frameworks and Applicable Regulations:

Vietnam National Technical Regulations (QCVN), Codex Standards, Applicable Vietnamese Standards (TCVN), Customer Specifications, Retailer Requirements, Internal Company Standards

Nutritional Quality

Evaluation of nutritional characteristics, including water content, energy value, minerals, vitamins, dietary fiber, antioxidants, and other bioactive compounds that contribute to the nutritional value of agricultural products.

Sensory and Physical Quality

Assessment of key quality attributes such as color, freshness, aroma, size, uniformity, sweetness, acidity, texture, firmness, smoothness, overall appearance, as well as surface defects, pest damage, and physiological disorders that may affect product quality and marketability.

Commercial quality

Evaluation of packaging integrity, transportation performance, shelf-life characteristics, product grading, traceability, labelling compliance and overall market presentation.

Food safety and hygiene

Monitoring and assessment of food safety risks, including environmental contaminants in soil, water and air; pesticide and agricultural chemical residues; heavy metals; microbiological contaminants; mycotoxins; foreign matter; and controls throughout production, processing, storage, transportation and distribution.

Processing quality

For products intended for direct consumption, evaluation focuses on sensory attributes, eating quality and cooking performance. For products intended for further processing, assessment includes dry matter content and other processing-specific quality characteristics.

Planting material quality

Assessment of planting material based on potential pest infestation, physiological maturity, genetic purity, growth performance, yield potential and overall crop quality potential.

Storage quality

Evaluation of harvest maturity, skin condition, firmness, storage performance, shelf-life characteristics and the potential presence of spoilage or harmful microorganisms during storage.

Agricultural product, fruit and vegetable testing

Eurofins Food and Feed Testing Vietnam provides comprehensive Farm-to-Fork solutions for producers, exporters, importers, distributors, retailers, and brand owners of agricultural products, fruits, and vegetables. Through an integrated portfolio of testing, inspection, auditing, and certification services, we help ensure product quality, food safety, authenticity, regulatory compliance, and market access across the entire supply chain, from farm to finished product.

Pesticide residue testing

Identification and quantification of pesticide residues to verify compliance with Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) established by Vietnam and international markets, including the European Union, United States, Japan, South Korea, China, ASEAN countries and other key export destinations.

Heavy metal testing

Analysis of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg) and other contaminants that may accumulate in soil and agricultural products, potentially affecting food safety and quality.

Microbiological testing

Detection and enumeration of microorganisms such as E. coli, Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, yeasts, molds and other microbiological contaminants that may impact product safety and shelf life.

Mycotoxin analysis

Assessment of mycotoxins produced by molds that may develop during cultivation, harvesting, storage, transportation and distribution.

Physicochemical and quality analysis

Evaluation of moisture content, freshness, Brix value, acidity, firmness, maturity, nutritional composition and other commodity-specific quality attributes.

Allergen testing

Identification and assessment of potential allergen cross-contamination risks throughout harvesting, handling, storage, processing and packaging operations.

DNA-based authenticity testing and variety identification (where applicable)

Verification of product authenticity, crop variety identification, origin verification and assessment of adulteration, substitution or food fraud risks.

Food safety solutions: compliance and export support

Support for compliance with food safety regulations and market requirements across the European Union, United States, Japan, South Korea, China, ASEAN countries and other export markets. Services may also support customer and retailer requirements, including GLOBALG.A.P., HACCP, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, BRCGS, SMETA, traceability programs, supplier assessments and supply chain verification.

Soil health assessment

Evaluation of soil nutrients, pH, organic matter, fertility indicators and overall soil health, supported by science-based fertilization recommendations and agronomic advisory services to enhance crop quality, improve productivity, support sustainable agriculture and optimize production costs.