Vietnamese agricultural product and seafood exporters will have morechances to expand their market as they well form regulations in thesanitary and phytosanitary systems (SPS) of the European Free TradeAssociation (EFTA).

Director General Tran TrungThuc, head of the Vietnamese EFTA negotiating team was speaking at aseminar to introduce the SPS jointly held by the Ministry of Industryand Trade, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Ministryof Agriculture and Rural Development in Ho Chi Minh City on October 3.

According to Thuc, the EFTA is another trade area for non-EUcountries in Europe, including Switzerland, Norway, Iceland andLiechtenstein.

This is a dynamic economic bloc with Switzerland and Norway being potential markets for Vietnam’s exports, he said.

In 2009, leaders of Vietnam and the EFTA agreed to raise theireconomic ties by launching negotiations of a bilateral free tradeagreement. The two sides have conducted five rounds of negotiation ofthe agreement, which covers trade in goods and services, investment andother issues of mutual concern.

To expand export market,apart from negotiations on tariff reductions, those relating to the SPSplay an important role in facilitating the exports of Vietnameseagricultural products and seafood in the EFTA in particular and Europeancountries in general, Thuc said.

Deputy Ambassador ofthe Norwegian Embassy Larissa Falkenberg Kosanovic said SPS measuresare to ensure safe animal and plant products and protect consumerhealth.

The EFTA has signed FTAs with 36 countries and this is a good chance for Vietnam to expand its market, she added.-VNA