Tightening management of planting area codes
In response to increasing market requirements, Hai Phong’s agricultural sector is proactively reviewing, standardizing and strengthening oversight of planting area codes.
Comprehensive review
Planting area codes are an important requirement for agricultural products to gain access to demanding markets. They not only help identify product origins but are also linked to production processes, pest control, food safety and traceability within each growing area.
By the end of 2025, Hai Phong had 475 planting area codes covering a total of 3,320 hectares. Of these, 270 codes were designated for exports and 205 for domestic consumption. A wide range of crops had been granted codes, including lychees, guavas, bananas, carrots and watermelons. These products have advantages in large-scale commercial production, with the potential to participate in supply chains and access higher-value market segments. The city also had 10 facilities with 38 packing facility codes for export purposes.
However, as market requirements become increasingly stringent, the conditions for maintaining planting area codes have also been tightened. As part of efforts to standardize the system and convert existing codes to a new format under Government’s Decree No. 38 on the import of plants with soil, planting area codes and packing facility codes, Hai Phong has conducted a comprehensive review of its entire coding system.
Production areas must be organized on a concentrated basis and follow VietGAP or GlobalGAP standards. Producers are required to maintain comprehensive records of production activities and the use of agricultural inputs, while establishing electronic traceability logs.
Strengthening supervision
Planting area codes bring clear benefits to the production and marketing of agricultural products, but they also place greater demands on management and supervision. Without strict controls, codes could be misused, borrowed or leased to allow products from outside designated growing areas to enter export supply chains.
In recent years, the Hai Phong Department of Agriculture and Environment has worked with local authorities to strengthen inspections of planting area codes and packing facility codes across the city. As of early September 2026, local authorities had inspected and monitored 64 growing areas and two packing facilities. In addition to inspections by specialized agencies, organizations granted codes have also proactively conducted self-monitoring.
Maintaining each code is also essential to protecting the reputation of Hai Phong’s agricultural products. Therefore, rather than focusing on the number of codes, local authorities should prioritize improving the quality of growing areas, strictly maintaining production requirements and strengthening monitoring at the grassroots level.
This will provide a foundation for local agricultural products to better meet market requirements and gradually increase the value of agricultural production.
Hai Phong News