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13 May 2025: UK-Vietnam FTA Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures – meeting minutes

Published 10 October 2025

Joint minutes of the Fourth Committee Meeting on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures under the Free Trade Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam (Vietnam).

Virtual, 13 May 2025

The fourth meeting of the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures under the UK-Vietnam free trade agreement took place on 13 May 2025 by video conference.

As in previous SPS committees between the 2 countries, there was a fruitful exchange of views on matters related to implementation of the SPS Chapter by participants of the meeting.

The UK participants were from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Department for Business and Trade, Food Standards Agency, and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Participants from Vietnam were from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and Ministry of Trade and Industry.

1. Opening remarks and adoption of the agenda

Progress and cooperation between the parties on SPS matters over the past year was highlighted. It was hoped that this committee meeting would continue to build on the existing framework and relationship between the UK and Vietnam. It was also noted that leaders of Vietnam and the UK were considering an upgrade to Comprehensive and Strategic Partners between the 2 countries.

Both parties noted the agenda and approved it.

2. Administrative matters

2.1 Introduction of SPS contact points under the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) and chairs of the meeting

Vietnam provided an update on changes in administrative management in relevant Ministries and departments. The newly formed Department of Livestock and Animal Health and the Plant Production and Protection Department will continue to serve as the Vietnam competent authorities for SPS matters.

Both the UK and Viet Nam confirmed their respective SPS Offices remain the designated contact points for implementing SPS provisions under the UKVFTA.

2.2 Acknowledgement of and agreement by the SPS Committee of its Rules of Procedure

The SPS Committee reaffirmed its adoption of the Rules of Procedure (RoP) agreed upon during the first committee meeting in 2021, with both sides in agreement.

2.3 Assessing the operational conclusions from the third UK-Vietnam SPS Committee

An update of ongoing operational conclusions from the previous SPS committee was provided, and a number of these were to be discussed in more detail as agenda items in this committee.

3. Discussing the issues raised by the UK

Progress on UK market access requests to Vietnam was discussed along with next steps and prioritisation of further requests.

Items discussed included:

• pork and poultry establishment registrations
• agreeing a listing agreement on meat and seafood
• beef and lamb market access
• goose and duck market access
• processed animal protein
• Vietnam’s pathogen testing requirements  

The UK also provided an update on its work related to Cell Cultivated Products (CCPs) highlighting the Food Standard Agency’s work, in collaboration with Food Standards Scotland (FSS), launching a regulatory sandbox programme for CCPs. It welcomed any update from Vietnam on their position regarding CCPs. The UK was happy to follow up and provide further information if helpful following this SPS committee meeting.

4. Discussing the issues raised by Vietnam

The status of a market access application for processed poultry meat from Vietnam to the UK was further discussed by the committee, along with next steps. The UK offered to assist Vietnam achieve the recommendations from the UK in order to progress this request. It also requested focal points from Vietnam for continued engagement.

5. Other SPS issues

No additional SPS issues were raised by either side during the meeting.

6. Calendar of the SPS Sub-Committee meetings

For the next SPS Committee meeting, the UK would be the host.  Both parties agreed the timing of the next meeting would be coordinated via the secretariats from each country.

Both sides will continue to cooperate with each other to progress items and issues discussed.

7. Decision on publication of minutes

Vietnam would prepare the minutes of the meeting, and both parties agreed that a condensed version of the minutes could be published once approved.

8. Operational conclusions

Vietnam summarised the operational conclusions recorded from this meeting, with any additional comments from the UK, and these would be circulated for comment and agreement following this committee.

9. Closing remarks

Both parties thanked each other for a fruitful meeting and looked forward to working together on shared priorities in the SPS space in the future.