US paves the way for pet food exports to Vietnam
The industry welcomes the long-awaited measure expected to help businesses operating in the region.
After years of negotiations with the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has streamlined export regulations for dry pet food to Vietnam.
The agency from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) released new international regulations consisting of health certificates for dry pet food.
AFIA has commended US authorities for the move and forecasts that the certificate will make shipping products to Vietnam more consistent and transparent and help US pet food exporters to increase their market share.
“US exporters can minimize the risk of their products being rejected or banned from foreign markets and ensure the continued success of their export business,” said AFIA President and CEO Constance Cullman.
According to Cullman, APHIS’s negotiated export health certificates provide “a clear and comprehensive set of guidelines for US exporters to follow and ensure their products meet the standards required by foreign governments.”
Why Vietnam?
According to AFIA, the South Asian country’s pet food market is a key area of interest, owing to a rapidly growing middle class with health-conscious pet owners looking to feed their animals a healthier diet.
In the last 5 years, Vietnam’s total pet food imports have reportedly grown by 69%, while the growth rate of US pet food exports to the country has remained small.
According to the US Census Bureau, American dog and cat food exports to Vietnam accounted for $655,000 (€593,000) in 2022, witnessing an increase of 20.4% against the previous year.
These figures are much lower than a few years ago. The data shows that 2018 pet food exports to the country reached $2.81 million (€2.5M), while in 2020 they accounted for just $295,000 (€267,000).
Share this story:
