The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) commends the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for releasing new international regulations for exporting dry petfood to Vietnam, after many years of discussions with the AFIA. APHIS’s new export health certificate for dry petfood will make shipping products to the Southeast Asian country more consistent and transparent.
“For years, the AFIA has urged APHIS to finalise its health certificate for exporting dry pet food products to Vietnam to make it easier for U.S. companies to do business there,” says AFIA President and CEO Constance Cullman. “APHIS’s negotiated export health certificates provide a clear and comprehensive set of guidelines for U.S. exporters to follow and ensure their products meet the standards required by foreign governments. By complying with these regulations, U.S. exporters can minimise the risk of their products being rejected or banned from foreign markets and ensure the continued success of their export business.”
Vietnam is a market of interest for the AFIA and a country of opportunity for U.S. petfood companies, given the country has a rapidly growing middle class with pet owners that want to feed their pets healthier diets, and U.S. complete and balanced petfood is one way to achieve that. In just the past five years, Vietnam’s total petfood imports increased 69 percent. While U.S. petfood exports to Vietnam still remain small, removing market access roadblocks, such as the lack of a negotiated health certificate, will allow U.S. exporters to better compete for this growing demand.
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