Vietnam announces official label for craft products

According to the association, the Vietcraft Excellence label is a “mark of excellence” which certifies that a Vietnamese handicraft product or company meets high standards of social, cultural, economic and ecological sustainability.

To receive the certification, producers have to meet 46 criteria in sustainability in material sourcing, production, distribution, in the process of use of customers, and afterwards when the product is done being used.

“The Vietcraft Excellence label shows Vietnamese craft producers’ effort to build the sustainability image of Vietnamese craft products internationally. It is going to be a pointer for importers to find sustainable suppliers in Vietnam,” said Do Nhu Dinh, Vietcraft’s chairman, at the launching ceremony.

The European Union, within the framework of the €16.5 million European Trade Policy and Investment Support Project (EU-MUTRAP), is going to help Vietnamese craft producers improve their operation in order to receive the certification.

Companies and products that are certified with the Vietcraft Excellence label is going to have better access to the European market, which imports €22.1 billion ($23.6 billion) worth of goods from Vietnam each year, of which imports of crafts products is €550 million ($587.7 million).

“I consider the Vietcraft Excellence label of great significance for the handicraft sector of Vietnam,” said Neven Mimica, European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development.

According to Mimica, the EU-MUTRAP project is designed to accompany the process of further integration of Vietnam in the world economy and this particular project with Vietcraft is supporting SMEs to comply with European market access requirements “through very practical capacity building support in sustainable design and branding of handcrafted lifestyle products.”

Craft production employs 1.5 million Vietnamese workers and brings about $1.7 billion in export revenue to the country each year.

The National Branding Programme, which seeks to promote the national image and national brands through product brands, has been implemented by the Ministry of Industry and Trade since 2011.