Chu Khôi

Previously, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment held the sole authority for issuing these export certificates. Under the new regulations, agencies designated by chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees will directly receive and process applications.

The authority to issue and re-issue certification for fragrant rice varieties exported to the EU and the UK—required to enjoy tariff preferences under the EVFTA and UKVFTA—will be officially decentralized to local governments as of July 1, 2026.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, this decentralization is being implemented under the Government’s Resolution No. 17/2026/NQ-CP regarding the reduction, decentralization, and simplification of administrative procedures; and aligns with some other decrees. This transfer is not merely a change in executing agencies; it reflects a broader strategy to empower local authorities and grant them greater autonomy in specialized management.

Previously, the ministry held the sole authority for issuing these export certificates. Under the new regulations, starting July 2026, agencies designated by chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees will directly receive and process applications. This shift is expected to alleviate the workload for central authorities while closing the gap between regulators and enterprises, particularly in localities with high rice yields and frequent export activities.

A key highlight of the new policy is that the certification process will remain based on existing documentation requirements. Since applications already include field inspection reports verified by authorized testing organizations—who are legally responsible for their findings—the issuing agencies will not be required to conduct additional site inspections. Consequently, the processing time will be maintained at a maximum of five working days, helping to reduce costs and streamline export logistics.

However, the ministry warned that for the policy to be effective immediately upon its start date, localities must urgently complete their preparations. Current assessments show that progress remains slow; only 8 out of the country’s 34 relevant provinces and cities have submitted specimen signatures and seals to the ministry for notification to the EU and UK authorities. 

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment emphasized that if the transition is not thoroughly prepared, there is a significant risk of certification disruptions when the new mechanism takes effect. Such a bottleneck would not only be an administrative failure but could also directly strip exporters of the tariff preferences provided by Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)—which currently serve as a vital competitive advantage for Vietnamese rice in the international market.

In the face of a volatile global rice market, maximizing the benefits of FTAs has become increasingly essential. According to Vietnam Customs data, Vietnam exported approximately 4.5 million tons of rice in the first five months of 2026, reaching a turnover of $2.09 billion.

Published Date: June 16, 2026