In August 2025, a pesticide residue analysis training was held in Hanoi, Vietnam, with a total of 22 participants. The training was organized by the Reference Testing and Agrifood Quality Services Center (RETAQ), under the National Authority for Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality, Processing, and Market Development (NAFIQPM), Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. RETAQ was chosen as the training provider because it has both qualified experts and a well-equipped laboratory infrastructure established through Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) ECO-RETAQ project (2019-2023). As this session is the only one conducted domestically, it could accommodate a larger number of participants compared to the other training programs under the AJFVC Output 2.

The 22 participants represented 17 institutions nationwide, including government-owned laboratories such as Southern Pesticides Control and Testing Center (SPCTC), Northern Pesticides Control and Testing Center (NPCTC), NAFIQPM Center 1, 3, 5, and 6, private laboratories such as Vien Tin Analysis and Testing Co., Ltd., research institutes such as the Plant Protection Research Institute, and public universities such as Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Hanoi University of Science and Technology and Hanoi Open University. These institutions were selected based on their active involvement in official testing, assessment, or national-level research related to food safety, particularly pesticide residues or pesticide evaluation under the Ministry’s framework. Given that the training curriculum addressed advanced topics, participants were selected based on their professional experience. As seasoned specialists in their respective fields, this training session also served as an opportunity for peer learning and knowledge exchange.

The training spanned two weeks and combined lectures and practical exercises. Topics covered in the lectures included method validation, measurement uncertainty, and proficiency testing. For the hands-on sessions, participants were divided into seven groups of three to four members. Participants performed multi-pesticide residue analysis on rice using the QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) extraction method, followed by sample analysis with advanced chromatography techniques, including gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Vy Vy from the SPCTC expressed her appreciation for the experience, stating, “The training program provided me with an excellent opportunity to connect and exchange knowledge with colleagues and experts in food safety and residue analysis. I learned important skills in internal auditing, method validation, and also updated my knowledge of international testing standards. These learnings can be directly applied to my daily laboratory work, contributing to improved reliability of analytical results.”