Food safety drives transformation in packaging and processing industry

Food safety drives transformation in packaging and processing industry

Amid major transformation in the global packaging and processing industry, food safety is becoming a critical competitive standard shaping market access, technology investment and supply chain reliability.

A view of ProPak Vietnam 2025 took place in HCM City. -- File Photo

As the global packaging and processing industry undergoes rapid transformation, food safety is emerging as a key competitive benchmark shaping market access, technology investment and supply chain reliability.

In response to tightening international regulations and growing traceability requirements, ProPak Vietnam 2026, endorsed by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, will serve as a major industry platform where businesses can evaluate advanced technologies and strengthen production systems to meet global food safety standards.

Across major export markets such as the European Union, the United States and Japan, compliance with strict food safety and risk control requirements is increasingly determining market access. Packaging solutions are no longer limited to protecting products during transport or storage. They now play a crucial role in reducing cross-contamination risks, improving seal integrity, extending shelf life and enabling rapid traceability when incidents occur.

At the same time, Vietnam continues to strengthen its position as a regional manufacturing and export hub. According to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam under the Ministry of Finance of Vietnam, the Industrial Production Index rose by 8.5 per cent year-on-year in the first eight months of 2025. Meanwhile, the paper packaging segment recorded a trade surplus of about US$400 million in the first half of 2025, according to International Trade Centre Trade Map data.

However industry growth is also creating new challenges. Businesses must ensure safety at every stage of the production chain, from processing and packaging to transport, while maintaining comprehensive documentation and traceable data systems capable of meeting international audit requirements.

The challenge lies not only in achieving compliance but also in maintaining stable operations that minimise the risk of non-conformities as production scales up. In this context investment in technology has become increasingly essential. Companies must comply with strict operational controls including monitoring critical control points, sanitation verification, allergen management, foreign matter detection and packaging integrity assurance.

Technology is therefore no longer optional but a fundamental requirement for maintaining market access, reducing quality risks and ensuring reliable supply chains. At the same time selecting the right technology remains a major challenge for many businesses.

With a wide range of suppliers offering varying levels of technological capability and technical support, companies face the risk of investing in equipment that may not fully meet operational needs or certification standards. For Vietnamese enterprises, particularly those serving both domestic and export markets, investment priorities are gradually shifting from price considerations towards hygiene assurance, safety performance and the ability to generate auditable operational data.

Certifications such as HACCP, ISO 22000 and BRCGS are increasingly seen as essential passports for entering international markets.

Against this backdrop ProPak Vietnam 2026 offers businesses an opportunity to observe, compare and evaluate packaging and processing technologies from a food safety perspective. The exhibition will bring together more than 450 companies from 32 countries and territories across more than 13,000 square metres of exhibition space, including six international pavilions from Austria, China, Germany, Italy, South Korea and Taiwan.

Participating brands such as Airlock Vietnam, Beijing Omori, Bericap Vietnam, Epson Vietnam, FPT Food Process Technology Vietnam, GEA Group, Ishida Co Ltd, Multivac Vietnam, Spirax Sarco and Wipotec will showcase technologies reflecting key industry priorities in food safety control.

These include foreign matter detection, checkweighing, packaging defect inspection, seal integrity testing, hygienic design and closed-loop conveying systems designed to reduce contamination risks and strengthen inspection capabilities.

Beyond its scale the exhibition’s core value lies in allowing businesses to directly observe and compare solutions, helping them make more informed investment decisions aligned with real factory operations.

With broad international participation and a comprehensive range of technologies on display, ProPak Vietnam 2026 reflects the wider transformation of the packaging and processing industry where food safety standards are becoming a decisive competitive advantage.

As regulatory requirements tighten and global supply chains demand greater transparency, Vietnamese enterprises seeking deeper integration into global markets must continue strengthening risk control systems, improving inspection capacity and developing reliable traceability data to ensure sustainable growth.

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