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Joint minutes of the third 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, 26 March 2024

The third meeting of the Committee on SPS measures under the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement took place on 26 March 2024 by video conference.

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, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Participants from Vietnam were from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Ministry of Health.

1.Ìý°¿±è±ð²Ô¾±²Ô²µ 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 both countries would continue to work together to facilitate trade and that this committee meeting would continue to build on the existing framework and relationship between the UK and Vietnam.

Both parties noted the agenda and approved it.

2.Ìý´¡³¦°ì²Ô´Ç·É±ô±ð»å²µ³¾±ð²Ô³Ù of, and agreement to, the SPSÌý°ä´Ç³¾³¾¾±³Ù³Ù±ð±ð Rules of Procedure

2.1Ìý±õ²Ô³Ù°ù´Ç»å³Ü³¦³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô ´Ç´ÚÌýSPS contact points under the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) and chairs of the meeting

The change to the UK co-chair for this committee meeting was noted. Existing contact points were confirmed.

2.2Ìý´¡³¦°ì²Ô´Ç·É±ô±ð»å²µ±ð³¾±ð²Ô³Ù of and agreement by the SPSÌý°ä´Ç³¾³¾¾±³Ù³Ù±ð±ð of its Rules of Procedures

The Rules of Procedure (RoP) was acknowledged and adopted by both parties.

2.3Ìý´¡²õ²õ±ð²õ²õ¾±²Ô²µ the operational conclusions from the second UK-Vietnam SPSÌý°ä´Ç³¾³¾¾±³Ù³Ù±ð±ð

An update of ongoing operational conclusions from the previous SPSÌý°ä´Ç³¾³¾¾±³Ù³Ù±ð±ð was provided. These were discussed in more detail as agenda items in this third committee.

3.Ìý¶Ù¾±²õ³¦³Ü²õ²õ¾±²Ô²µ the issues raised by the UK

Progress on market access requests from the UK to Vietnam was discussed along with next steps and an update on the process for further requests.

In addition, the UK sought further information and contact points from Vietnam on their interests and priorities regarding capacity and capability building.

The UK provided a presentation of the UK Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) National Action Plan and a summary of priorities. The UK was interested to understand what Vietnam’s priorities are for collaboration on AMR in animal health. Further engagement on AMR following this committee was considered.

4.Ìý¶Ù¾±²õ³¦³Ü²õ²õ¾±²Ô²µ the issues raised by Vietnam

The status of a market access application from Vietnam to the UK was discussed by the committee, along with next steps.

Further discussion concerned Vietnam’s interest in support from the UK in a number of areas related to SPS.

5.Ìý¹ó³Ü³Ù³Ü°ù±ðÌýSPSÌý°ä´Ç³¾³¾¾±³Ù³Ù±ð±ð 5.Ìý¹ó³Ü³Ù³Ü°ù±ðÌýSPSÌý°ä´Ç³¾³¾¾±³Ù³Ù±ð±ð meetings

Both parties agreed the timing of the next meeting would be coordinated via the secretariats from each country. This would not preclude any expert discussion on items and issues in the interim.

6.Ìý¶Ù±ð³¦¾±²õ¾±´Ç²Ô on publication of minutes

Both parties agreed that a condensed version of the minutes could be published once approved.

7.Ìý°¿±è±ð°ù²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô²¹±ô conclusions

The UK summarised the operational conclusions and these would be circulated for comment and agreement following this committee.

8.Ìý°ä±ô´Ç²õ¾±²Ô²µ remarks

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