Vietnam, Canada share lessons on food safety and export compliance promotion

Friday, 04/11/2016 18:40
(CPV) - Food safety experts from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) were in Hanoi to deliver a technical workshop on Canada’s food safety system.

The workshop, aimed at strengthening compliance with Canadian food import requirements, is targeting Vietnamese government officials, business associations, research and academic institutions, and food exporters.

The two-day workshop (November 3rd-4th), an example of cooperation between the two countries to share information and enhance food safety, was jointly opened by Mr. Vu Van Tam, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and Ms Ping Kitnikone, Ambassador of Canada to Vietnam.


The CFIA has identified Vietnam as a country with which it seeks to engage on food safety, given the rapid increase in Vietnamese exports to Canada, which has more than doubled over the past five years. Compliance with Canada’s fish and seafood import requirements are important components being addressed with this initiative.

By assisting Canada’s trade partners, such as Vietnam, improve specific areas of their food safety export control systems, the CFIA seeks to improve food safety for Canadians. Ensuring that regulators and exporters in other countries understand and adhere to Canada’s food safety import requirements is one such measure.

Earlier this week, the CFIA delegation looked at food processing plants and Government testing laboratories in Hai Phong city and Nam Dinh province. The delegation is planning to continue their work in similar establishments in the provinces of Vinh Long, Hau Giang, Long An, Can Tho and Ho Chi Minh city before conducting another technical workshop in Ho Chi Minh city on November 11th.

“Food safety is a top priority for the Government of Canada. Today’s workshop is an opportunity to exchange information on food safety controls and to discuss ways to improve the compliance of Vietnamese products with Canada's import requirements in identified areas of historical non-compliance. This type of workshop is an effective way to build on our historical relationship with Vietnam in the area of food safety, and hopefully to facilitate further trade between our two countries”, said Ambassador Ping Kitnikone.

Since 2008, the Government of Canada has invested more than CAD700 million in food safety. These investments are giving the CFIA the tools it needs to ensure a strong, food safety control system. This includes enhancing food inspection activities, and further developing science-based food safety regulations and standards.

Vietnam is an important country for both Canadian development assistance and commercial relations. It has now become the top trading partner for Canada in ASEAN with total bilateral trade valued at CAD5.2 billion over the past 12 months./.

 

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