The Department of Science and Technology under the Ministry of Industry and Trade on July 22 relayed to the press a notice they received about Vietnamese instant noodles exported to Europe.

An instant noodle production line of a Vietnamese enterprise. Photo: congthuong.vn

The Vietnam Sanitary and Phytosanitary Notification Authority and Enquiry Point (SPS), under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, has recently received a notice from the European Union Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (EU RASFF) regarding Vietnamese instant noodles exported to Europe. 

Specifically, Germany issued warnings against chicken-flavored instant noodles by Asia Food Joint Stock Company based in the southern province of Binh Duong, after detecting that they contain ethylene oxide (EO) over the EU’s acceptable level. 

Malta has warned against Nguyen Gia brand rice noodles and ordered a recall, alleging that such products have been processed from unauthorized genetically modified rice.

Meanwhile, Poland returned kid instant noodle products from Ho Chi Minh City-based Vietnam Food Industries JSC (Vifon) after warning about a hazard that has yet to be clarified.

According to preliminary review information from the Department of Science and Technology on July 22, the agency is verifying the batch exported to Germany as it might have been exported since 2021. Under EU regulations, then, instant noodle imports are not subject to EO control.

As for the Nguyen Gia brand noodle product, which has been identified by Malta as being potentially produced from genetically modified rice, the enterprise is responsible for meeting the standards set by the importing country.

Meanwhile, the warning from Poland about the chicken instant noodle products was issued because the Vietnamese exporter failed to provide sufficient initial information and its import profile. Poland also returned the batch.

Ngo Xuan Nam, Deputy Director of the SPS said: "The Ministry of Industry and Trade is checking details and verifying information to take appropriate measures." 

He also noted that each country has different food safety regulations to protect the health of its people, so Vietnamese exporters need to carefully study and abide by them.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has established a working group to inspect production lines and supervise on a large scale of instant noodles consumed in the domestic market, imported instant noodles, and instant noodles for export.

No shipments have been returned yet after the EU requested that each batch of instant noodles imported to the bloc must have a food safety certificate since February 17.

The ministry pledged to continue supporting exporters in the process of solving difficulties and obstacles to export activities.