According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, as part of the official visit to New Zealand by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the Department of Animal Health and New Zealand Policy and Trade Department signed a cooperative agreement on March 11 to utilize electronic certificates in the veterinary field in the 2024-2026 period.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan and Minister of Agriculture Todd McClay. The agreement specifies previous agreements between the two countries on food safety and plant quarantine and facilitates customs clearance for agriculture and fisheries products.

Under the newly-signed agreement, the two countries will exchange information on regulations that may affect commercial activities. Vietnam and New Zealand will consult each other and work together to ensure that the new regulations do not hinder trade and to identify solutions to minimize any potential impact on trade.

If problems arise, the two sides agree to coordinate to resolve issues based on protecting the health of humans, animals and plants without disrupting trade flows.

To create favorable conditions for customs clearance for agriculture and fisheries products using electronic certificate system, Vietnam and New Zealand will initially focus on dairy products from New Zealand.

New Zealand will provide technical assistance for officials from the Department of Animal Health during the transition period to using these certificates. A trial period will run from late 2024 to the second quarter of 2025, and be expanded to other products from the third quarter of 2025 onwards.

Vietnam and New Zealand will share information and experience in managing animal disease.

They will work together to certify animal disease-free zones and facilities and provide the necessary counselling concerning the preparation of documents to certify animal disease-free zones and facilities in accordance with regulations from the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).

Vietnam also acknowledges that New Zealand has provided sufficient information to facilitate market entry of its honey and venison products. The cooperative agreement also states that they will develop practical inspection programs for honey and venison to finalize the risk assessment process.

Moreover, New Zealand will provide post-graduate training programs to improve the capability of officials from the Department of Animal Health.