We have interviewed Mr. Do Thanh Muon - An auditor of VinaCert (also an approved auditor by GLOBALG.A.P. c/o FoodPLUS GmbH) about this topic.
Sir, it is known that the Directorate of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) had a meeting with the GLOBALG.A.P. Management Department to legalize VietGAP Aquaculture standard. Both parties have agreed on a mutual recognition between VietGAP and GLOBALG.A.P. Could you please analyse further on the urgency and the significance of this event?
Although VietGAP Standard has been established including factors such as Food Safety, Epidemics Safety, Environment Safety, and Social Welfare, and is almost compatibile with more than 95% of the GLOBALG.A.P. Standard (according to the information from the seminar "Supporting the implementation of legislation on economic integration" was held in Can Tho on 23-24/04/2013, funded by USAID), the current problem is that consumers and distributors do not have many opportunities to access and understand VietGAP standard.
Meanwhile, GLOBALG.A.P. standard has been established over 10 years ago and been recognized by many distributors and consumers, hence, when there is a mutual recognition between VietGAP and GLOBALG.A.P. standard, it would be a chance to elevate the VietGap standard of Vietnam.
I think that the related state authorities will expedite the process of mutual recognition between GLOBALG.A.P. and VietGAP standard.
Auditor Do Thanh Muon (Third from the right)
Thanks to the recognition between VietGAP and GLOBALG.A.P., in the future, if aquaculture farmers meet the requirements of VietGAP, it also means that they are granted Certificate of GLOBALG.A.P standard. What are the benefits for the aquaculture facilities?
The benefits for the aquaculture facilities are that they shall be only audited once for one of the two standards, and certified for both standards. In addition, certification costs can be reduced by 30-40 % compared to the costs of certification for both standards as before.
Moreover, having the certificate of GLOBALG.A.P., the aquaculture facilities will be accepted by the import market more easily.
When there is a mutual recognition between GLOBALG.A.P. and VietGAP standard, which certification body could audit the certification of VietGAP Aquaculture?
Conditions for certification bodies to audit the certification of VietGAP Aquaculture and grant both certificates of GLOBALG.A.P and VietGAP, is that:
- They are appointed by the Directorate of Fisheries to be permitted to audit the certification of VietGAP standard.
- Their competence are accredited by the GLOBALG.A.P. Management Department.
The detailed steps of the competence requirements for certification bodies to be mutually recognited between GLOBALG.A.P. and VietGAP are being established by the Directorate of Fisheries and GLOBALG.A.P. Management Department.
What are VinaCert’s advantages and preparation in performing its role as a VietGAP Fisheries certification body (is appointed by GLOBALG.A.P. and the Directorate of Fisheries) in the near future?
VinaCert recently has been appointed by the Directorate of Fisheries for VietGAP standard certification audit. Besides, VinaCert has also been designated by GLOBALG.A.P. c/o FoodPLUS GmbH for GlobalG.A.P standard certification audit. So, for VinaCert, the performance of audit for two in one is applying steps in accordance with the recognized procedure by the Directorate of Fisheries and GLOBALG.A.P. c/o proposed FoodPLUS GmbH.
Thank you very much!