TRAINING ON THE EUROPEAN UNION

DEFORESTATION REGULATION (EUDR)

Coffee production plays an important role in Vietnam’s agricultural sector and is one of the country’s key export commodities. The EU is one of the major markets, accounting for nearly 41% of Vietnam’s total coffee export value. Therefore, meeting the requirements of the European Union Deforestation Regulation has become an urgent priority for the coffee sector. Son La is Vietnam’s leading Arabica coffee-producing region. By the end of 2025, the province had approximately 33,628 hectares of coffee, with an annual production of more than 37,700 tonnes of green coffee, making an important contribution to the livelihoods of farming households, particularly ethnic minority communities.

To strengthen producers’ readiness for EUDR implementation, three training sessions were organised in Muổi Nọi Commune, Son La Province, from 16–18 June 2026, under the Forest Governance, Markets and Climate (FGMC) Programme – Phase II. A total of 75 smallholder coffee-producing households participated, of whom 60% were women. The training focused on key EUDR requirements related to deforestation-free production, legal compliance and traceability.

Through the training, participants improved their understanding of the EUDR and its emerging requirements for the coffee supply chain. Discussions at the training also highlighted several constraints faced by smallholder producers in terms of technical capacity and resources, particularly in meeting requirements related to traceability and land documentation.

The use of local trainers helped facilitate communication and encourage active participation among trainees. In addition to the achievements, the training highlighted the need for continued support to help producers move from awareness to practical capacity, particularly in geolocation, land documentation and traceability. Strengthening these capacities will be important for improving the readiness of Son La’s coffee sector and supporting producers in maintaining access to international markets.