EU food regulations: what Vietnamese food products must meet to be sold in Europe

In short, EU food regulations require every product placed on the market to be safe, traceable, produced under a hygiene system based on HACCP principles, labelled to European standards and compliant with limits on additives, residues and contaminants. How demanding this is depends on your product: plant-based dry goods are usually far simpler than meat, seafood, dairy or honey. This article gives you the general picture so you can prepare. For the details of your specific product, please confirm with the competent authority or with the Miss Linh team. This is not legal advice.

The foundation: safety and traceability

The EU General Food Law (Regulation (EC) No 178/2002) puts responsibility on food businesses: place only safe food on the market, and be able to trace it "one step back, one step forward", meaning you know where your ingredients came from and who you sold the product to. Keep batch codes, ingredient records and production records in an organised way. European buyers will ask for these documents.

Hygiene, HACCP and certificates

Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 requires food producers to put in place procedures based on HACCP principles. In addition, many importers, supermarkets and distributors ask for third-party certification, for example HACCP, ISO 22000, or standards such as BRC and IFS. This is often a buyer requirement rather than a legal one, so ask your target customers what they need before you invest in a particular certificate.

Labelling: the most common stumbling block

Labels under Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 are the part many companies have to redo. The main elements usually include:

• the product name and a list of ingredients in descending order by weight;
• allergens (14 groups under the rules) emphasised in the ingredient list;
• net quantity, date of durability (use-by or "best before") and storage conditions;
• a nutrition declaration in the EU format for most prepacked foods;
• the name and address of the responsible food business in the EU, and the country of origin where required;
• the right language: usually the language of the country where the product is sold, and each member state has its own rules.

Claims such as "healthy" or "rich in vitamins" may only be used if they appear on the EU list of authorised claims (Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006). If you write "organic", the product must carry an organic certification that complies with Regulation (EU) 2018/848.

Additives, residues and contaminants

The EU allows only additives, flavourings and preservatives from an approved list, under specific conditions of use. A substance that is legal in Vietnam may not be permitted in the EU. The EU also sets maximum residue levels for pesticides (Regulation (EC) No 396/2005) and limits contaminants such as heavy metals and mycotoxins. For spices, tea, nuts, sauces and other agricultural products, review your raw materials and test results before shipping. A consignment that is flagged or rejected is costly and damages your reputation. If you make sauces and condiments, the ingredient list and additives are the part to check most carefully.

Packaging and food contact materials

Packaging that touches food directly must meet EU rules on food contact materials (Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 and specific measures for materials such as plastics). Ask your packaging supplier for documents proving compliance.

Product groups with extra requirements

• Animal-origin products (meat, seafood, dairy, honey, eggs): usually require the establishment to be on a list approved for export to the EU, veterinary or health certificates and checks at the border. This is a much harder route.
• Novel foods: foods or ingredients not significantly consumed in the EU before 15 May 1997 need prior authorisation under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.
• Increased controls: the EU periodically updates a list of products from certain countries that are checked more frequently at import. Check the current list for your product.

Import documents and the producer’s responsibilities

To bring goods into the EU you need an EORI number and a Dutch VAT number, plus the right customs documents. A summary of the usual tasks:

How Miss Linh can help

Miss Linh is a B2B platform: Vietnamese producers sell their products in their own name to restaurants, caterers, shops, supermarkets and wholesalers in Europe. You remain the owner of your products until they are sold; the goods are stored in a warehouse in the Netherlands and Miss Linh delivers them to buyers. Before you start, Miss Linh advises whether your product can be sold in the EU, and helps with pricing advice, VAT and customs set-up, and transport and customs clearance to the warehouse. You take care of food-safety certificates, EU-compliant labelling and packaging, an EORI number and a Dutch VAT number, and the team helps you with each of these steps. Miss Linh focuses on small and medium-sized producers, especially women-led businesses. You can read how to become a supplier and see the producers already on Miss Linh. When you are ready, contact the team, who speak Vietnamese, Dutch and English.

Frequently asked questions