Vietnamese textile exporters to focus on traceability

Cotton traceability is something that every company must account for when bringing their product to the world, according to Vo Manh Hung, head representative of Cotton Council International (CCI) in Vietnam.

Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai, deputy general secretary of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS) told a recent conference in Ho Chi Minh City that more and more international textile and apparel companies are pursuing green production and that is posing a big challenge to Vietnam’s textile firms, which also need to satisfy transparency requirements related to origin, domestic material use, labour, and environment commitments.

Companies trading in markets with whom Vietnam has signed a free trade agreement (FTA) have to ensure that the materials used to make their products are in line with the FTA’s environmental regulations in the importing countries.

Officials of the textile industry are now working with the country’s ministry of industry and trade to build industrial compounds with wastewater treatment systems to ensure environmental protection.

Textile firms, especially original design manufacturers (ODM), should carefully research Vietnam and the importing countries' traceability rules and standards, the conference was told.

The conference was held as part of the International Exhibition of Textile and Garments and Fabric and Garment Accessories (SaigonTex and SaigonFabric), which continues until August 6.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)