The European Union (EU) has issued relaxed adjustments on its import requirements for Vietnamese instant noodle products, according to the Vietnam Sanitary and Phytosanitary Notification Authority and Enquiry Point (SPS Vietnam).

The adjustments will take effect on July 3, the SPS Vietnam said in its announcement on Tuesday morning.

The EU will no longer require Vietnamese exporters to provide a food safety certificate for instant vermicelli, noodles, and pho products without a seasoning package as per the Regulation (EU) 2021/2246 of December 15, 2021.

Such a requirement, along with a 20-percent frequency of identity and physical checks, however, will remain for Vietnamese instant noodle products that contain spices, some other ingredients, and additives, as well as dragon fruits.

The EU will also maintain the level of frequency of identity and physical checks at 50 percent on parsley, coriander leaves, basil, mint, okra, and peppers of the genus Capsicum.

The European Parliament (EP) and the European Council (EC) meet to review and assess violations of rules on the food and cattle/animal feed safety of products imported into the EU every six months.

The SPS Vietnam, the Plant Protection Department, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and related units worked with the EU Delegation to Vietnam in May to make it easier for Vietnamese enterprises to trade the aforementioned products in Europe.

The SPS Vietnam advised Vietnamese companies to strictly comply with the registration and certification procedures from the competent authority and closely monitor the level of pesticide residues in exported products, especially ethylene oxide in seasoning packages inside instant noodles and dithiocarbamates in dragon fruits.

Inspections will become more frequent if more enterprises violate the regulations, thereby raising difficulties in exporting to the EU and inviting increased competition from other countries, the agency said.

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