Vietnam's Ministry of Health is officially finalizing the draft National Technical Standard QCVN 8-1:2026/BYT, which regulates mycotoxin contamination limits in food products. The initiative is directly led by Deputy Minister of Health, Do Xuan Tuyen, in a cross-sectoral coordination meeting aimed at strengthening food safety oversight at both national and international levels.
This standard update is a crucial step given that the previous regulation issued in 2011 is no longer considered relevant to current global supply chain dynamics and scientific developments. In the latest draft, the government sets maximum limits for six major mycotoxin groups: aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, patulin, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, and total fumonisins.
Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen emphasized that climate change has increased the risk of fungal growth from food production through distribution. Therefore, this new standard is designed to cover a broader range of food categories to comprehensively mitigate public health risks.
In its formulation, the Vietnamese government ensures that this regulation aligns with World Trade Organization (WTO) principles, particularly concerning technical barriers to trade. The new standard will refer to the Codex Alimentarius (CODEX STAN 193-1995) and European Union regulations (EC 2023/915) to ensure transparency and efficiency in import-export activities.
Currently, the Food Safety Department is conducting a policy impact analysis that includes cost evaluations for business operators and the readiness of the national testing system. This step is expected to create a stable, transparent business ecosystem capable of guaranteeing maximum protection for consumers amid increasingly competitive global economic integration.
