VietGap to be upgrated to meet international standard in 2015
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is building a route to upgrade the good agricultural practice standard (VietGAP) for vegetables, fruits, tea towards integration with the international GAP (globalGAP) after 2015. 

Accordingly, the Ministry will promote the application of VietGAP and VietGAP certification if these following conditions are met, including focusing production scale or coordination between farmers. In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture revises the published VietGAP regulations for some crops to better match the conditions of Vietnam, and in harmony with international standards. 

Currently, VietGAP Steering Committee also has assigned Cultivation Department to coordinate with the Management Board of agricultural projects to develop VietGAP logo. A creating logo contest maybe held in order to select a common logo used for VietGAP certified products. The development of VietGAP logo is consistent with international trends and also to identify certified products in the market, especially in the markets of some ASEAN countries such as Thailand, Malaysia. 

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development also requires Cultivation Department to accelerate developing the guidance documents of implementing the Decision No. 01/2012/QD-TTg dated 01.09.2012 of the Prime Minister on a number of policies to support VietGAP application in agriculture, forestry and fisheries; Technical Regulation on food safety conditions for vegetables, fruits, tea leaves during production and preliminary processes. In addition, agricultural, forestry and aquatic products quality management department develops the circular to guide products quality inspection and control in wholesale markets.

According to Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, there has been a significant number of successful VietGAP models so far. Ministry of Agriculture and the local authorities will continue to guide the production facilities, especially in the field of producing fruit and vegetables to organize the production and implement technical standards under VietGAP in order to ensure products safety./.

TTXVN