Vietnam Simplifies Export Procedures for Agricultural Products with Online System for Growing Area and Packing Facility Codes

The Vietnamese government has issued Resolution No. 36/2026/NQ-CP, simplifying administrative procedures for obtaining growing area codes and packing facility codes for agricultural products. The resolution mandates the full online processing of applications and management of these codes, based on the principle of self-declaration and self-responsibility by individuals and organizations. This approach aims to reduce processing times and compliance costs, streamline administrative procedures without introducing new ones, and ensure transparency and practicality aligned with actual production and packaging conditions. The procedures will be integrated with post-inspection, monitoring, violation handling, and traceability mechanisms by competent state agencies. Pre-inspection will only be conducted if required by the importing country. For obtaining growing area and packing facility codes, individuals and organizations will submit applications through the National Public Service Portal (Cổng dịch vụ công quốc gia) to the People's Committee of the commune (Ủy ban nhân dân cấp xã) where the growing area or packing facility is located. If the importing country does not require a code, the Commune People's Committee Chairman will issue a code issuance notification within three working days of receiving the application. If the code cannot be issued, a written response stating the reasons will be provided. For cases where the importing country requires a code, the Commune People's Committee Chairman will conduct an inspection and issue the notification within 10 working days. If the importing country allows Vietnam's competent authorities to self-approve codes, immediate approval will be granted. Otherwise, a written refusal with reasons will be issued. For codes requiring approval from the importing country, provincial-level specialized focal agencies will compile and send the list to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Bộ Nông nghiệp và Môi trường) within three working days of the notification. The Ministry will then compile and submit the list to the importing country for review and approval, adhering to any specific timeframes set by the importing country. This simplification is expected to facilitate the access of Vietnamese agricultural products, such as fruits and vegetables, to international markets and enhance export competitiveness. Under its one-party system, Vietnam has pursued economic growth with export promotion as a key pillar. Diversifying export markets is also being emphasized amidst complex relations with China, and such procedural efficiencies could support the development of new markets.