The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) is calling for public feedback on a draft proposal for a Decree on the construction and development of labels and brands for Vietnamese agricultural products.

The agricultural sector has significantly contributed to Vietnam's export achievements, maintaining a consistent trade surplus. Since joining the WTO in 2007, agricultural exports have grown from $12.6 billion to over $53.01 billion in 2023. The trade surplus reached a record $12.07 billion, a 43.7% increase compared to the previous year. In 2024, agricultural exports are estimated to reach $62.4 billion, an 18.5% increase from 2023.

Despite these achievements, the sector faces challenges in ensuring stable sales and high value due to unstable quality and a lack of strong brands. MARD notes that the absence of standardized production, processing, packaging, transportation, storage, and display processes specific to agricultural products hinders the development of strong labels and brands. Additionally, a lack of concentrated production areas linked to farming area codes and traceability affects the supply of quality raw materials.

Current laws and policies on brand development are general and not suited to the specific characteristics of agricultural products, often produced on a small scale with inconsistent quality.

The proposed Decree aims to tightly manage quality during production and processing, certify products meeting national agricultural label standards, and reassure consumers of product safety, high quality, certification, and traceability. It also seeks to promote the image of Vietnamese agricultural products on the international market, contributing to increased added value and income for farmers and businesses.