At a trade conference during the Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival in Dak Lak province, experts and businesses discussed the impact of the European Union's Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) on Vietnam's coffee sector. With enforcement set for 2026, the EUDR requires coffee exporters to prove their products are not linked to deforestation after December 31, 2020. This mandate calls for substantial investment in traceability systems, production monitoring, and carbon emission reduction.

Thai Anh Tuan, from the state-owned Simexco Dak Lak, expressed concerns about the increased production costs due to these new requirements, as well as similar standards imposed by other countries such as Japan and South Korea. Vanusia Nogueira from the International Coffee Organization also highlighted the challenges posed by the rising global coffee demand and market volatility, exacerbated by climate change and stringent regulations.

To help businesses comply, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has introduced a pilot regional plantation data system in four Central Highlands districts, with plans to integrate all coffee-growing areas into the system by December 2024. Additionally, industry leaders like Trinh Duc Minh from the Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Association advocated for sustainable farming practices, replanting coffee plantations, and diversifying into higher-value products such as specialty coffee and instant coffee.

With the EU's compliance deadlines extended, the coffee sector faces both significant challenges and opportunities to enhance sustainability while meeting global market demands.