The Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association (VPSA) reports that several exporters have encountered difficulties securing health certificates (HC) for shipments, especially those involving pepper.

Prior to July 1, the HC issuance process was managed by the Food Safety Department under the Ministry of Health, as stipulated in Circular 52/2015/TT-BYT. However, starting July 1, under Decree 148/2025/ND-CP, this authority has been transferred to provincial-level health departments or designated agencies under provincial People’s Committees.

More than a month after the decree took effect, the new process remains problematic, hampering exporters. Despite repeated inquiries to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, companies have received no clear guidance on the new HC application process. Officials have only advised them to wait for further instructions, without specifying a timeline.

VPSA revealed that one pepper exporter is in a critical situation, with a container en route to Casablanca, Morocco, expected to arrive on September 5. The buyer requires a valid health certificate to clear the shipment through customs. Due to current certification delays, the company cannot provide complete documentation in time. Another business shipping pepper to Hong Kong (China) is facing the same issue due to the lack of an HC.

“Just these two shipments alone are worth USD 110,000,” said Le Viet Anh, Secretary General of VPSA. “The administrative bottlenecks must be resolved swiftly to avoid major disruptions to the sector.”

In response, VPSA has submitted a petition to the Government Office, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MARD), and other relevant agencies.

The association is urging the Ministry of Health to urgently address the case involving the Morocco-bound shipment to prevent it from being rejected due to incomplete paperwork. VPSA also calls on the ministry to accelerate the release of clear, official guidelines for the HC application process, enabling exporters to submit timely documentation and avoid costly delays and container detention fees at destination ports.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Health should promptly issue consistent instructions nationwide so businesses can comply with regulations and avoid further risks at customs.

Previously, exporters shipping pepper to the European Union (EU) also experienced similar complications with food safety certification. Although the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) was responsible for this document through the Plant Protection Department, responsibility was delegated to provincial governments starting July 1. However, provinces struggled to identify the appropriate agency to issue the certificates, and authorized offices were unclear on procedures. The resulting delays, which lasted nearly a month, were only resolved after intervention from central authorities.

According to the Import-Export Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnam exported an estimated 22,000 tons of pepper worth USD 143 million in July 2025. Cumulatively, from January to July, pepper exports reached 145,000 tons and brought in USD 991 million. This represents an 11.6% decline in volume but a 29.9% increase in value compared to the same period in 2024, driven by a 47% year-on-year rise in average export price, now reaching USD 6,823 per ton.

Tien Phong