Despite efforts to promote food safety standards nationwide, only a small share of Vietnam's vegetables are certified under VietGAP, raising concerns over consumer protection. VietGAP compliance is the minimum requirement for standardized production, yet leaders from the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection report that less than 1% of Vietnam's vegetable-growing area meets this standard.
Speaking at the forum "Improving the quality and safety of domestic agricultural products" on September 23, Nguyen Van Muoi, Deputy Secretary General of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, said that food safety begins with proper production processes, with VietGAP as the baseline. Current data shows only 5–6% of vegetables meet this criterion. "When the minimum standard is not met, we're neglecting quality control, and consumers bear the consequences," he stated.
According to Nguyen Quy Duong, Deputy Director of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, food safety management is currently divided among three ministries: Health, Industry and Trade, and Agriculture and Rural Development. In crop production, the stage of cultivation is considered the most critical for ensuring food safety. Vietnam has around 10 million farming households, 1.15 million hectares of vegetables, and 1.3 million hectares of fruit crops, serving both domestic markets and exports.
Since 2008, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued regulations promoting VietGAP-standardized production. However, a nationwide survey conducted every five years and published in 2024 showed that only 150,000 hectares across six crop groups are VietGAP-certified. For vegetables, just over 8,000 hectares of 1.15 million are certified, equal to less than 1% of total production. Even including GlobalGAP and other standards, only 8,400 hectares of vegetables are certified. Duong acknowledged that this is a very modest figure compared to the scale of production and consumption needs.
Other forms of safety commitment exist, such as informal agreements signed by farmers, but these remain small-scale and scattered. Muoi stressed the need for stronger control of product quality in the market, noting that consumers are most concerned about chemical residues. He said plant protection products should be controlled by prescription, with withdrawal periods ranging from weeks to months, depending on the product.
Market monitoring remains a challenge, with supermarkets easier to regulate than small vendors or street sales. Muoi said centralized sales points would reduce consumer risk. Producers must also comply with standards before their products reach markets, yet oversight remains limited.
Duong added that Vietnam's fragmented, small-scale farming model is unlikely to change quickly. He suggested encouraging farmers to join groups or cooperatives to develop shared brands with area codes, packaging, and traceability. Effective oversight, penalties, and better communication are needed to increase awareness among both producers and consumers.
Source: Vietnam Net Global