PTEXIM invests in ISO/IEC 17025-certified laboratory

Standardizing spice testing to international standards

Phuc Thinh Import Export Investment Joint Stock Company (PTEXIM) has launched a project to build an ISO/IEC 17025-certified laboratory (LAB), scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2026.

ISO/IEC 17025 internationally accredited laboratory

This strategic move aims to strengthen PTEXIM’s product quality control capacity and meet the stringent standards of export markets, as countries such as the U.S., EU, and Japan tighten their regulations on microbiology, mycotoxins, pesticides, and ethylene oxide (ETO) in spices originating from Asia.

Covering an area of 200 m², PTEXIM’s LAB is designed following international reference laboratory models, integrating specialized functional zones for microbiology, mycotoxin, pesticide residue, heavy metals, PAH, and ETO analysis—key criteria in the spice export industry.

Advanced analytical capability aligned with global standards

PTEXIM’s laboratory is equipped to perform a wide range of in-depth analytical tests, including:

• Microbiology: TPC, E. coli, Coliforms, Yeast & Mold, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacteria, Bacillus cereus, etc.

• Mycotoxins: Aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2) and Ochratoxin A

• Pesticide residues: Over 980 compounds in spice matrices

• ETO (Ethylene Oxide)

• PAH (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)

• Other related substances

All testing methods will be accredited by BoA (Bureau of Accreditation Vietnam) — a member of the MRA under APLAC and ILAC, ensuring that results are legally valid and internationally recognized.

• Độc tố nấm mốc: Aflatoxin (B1, B2, G1, G2) và Ochratoxin A

• Dư lượng thuốc bảo vệ thực vật: > 980 hợp chất trên nền gia vị

• ETO (ethylene oxide)

• PAH (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)

• Các loại chất khác

Tất cả phép thử sẽ được BoA (Văn phòng Công nhận Chất lượng Việt Nam) thẩm định – đơn vị thành viên MRA của APLAC và ILAC, đảm bảo kết quả có giá trị pháp lý và công nhận quốc tế.

The LC-MS/MS technique was employed to detect and quantify common mycotoxins in spice samples.

State-of-the-art equipment and top-tier expertise

The project features the latest GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS analytical systems—cutting-edge technologies in measurement and testing—allowing precise trace-level detection of food safety parameters.

The LAB is operated by experts from leading testing centers in Vietnam, responsible for all stages from test development and documentation to establishing standard operating procedures in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025.

All technicians are trained and competency-assessed by BoA or Quatest 3, with periodic training and calibration programs to ensure their proficiency matches globally recognized testing laboratories.

Risk management and competitiveness – Direct benefits for customers and the industry

The ISO/IEC 17025-certified LAB enables PTEXIM to control product quality from sourcing to final output, minimizing risks of cross-contamination, impurities, and microbial infection. Independence from external testing facilities shortens turnaround time and boosts export productivity.

Customers, partners, and consumers directly benefit as PTEXIM’s internationally certified LAB reduces analysis costs, resulting in more competitive product pricing.

Matching global benchmarks – Establishing international laboratory standards

Once operational, PTEXIM’s LAB will be among the few internal laboratories in Vietnam’s spice industry to achieve ISO/IEC 17025 certification. This accreditation grants PTEXIM’s testing results legal validity comparable to international laboratories such as Eurofins, SGS, and TUV.

Amid globalized trade and increasingly strict quality oversight, PTEXIM’s world-class LAB investment marks a milestone of maturity for Vietnam’s spice industry.

Guided by the philosophy “Quality Creates Value,” PTEXIM remains steadfast in advancing technology, standards, and human resources to meet the demands of major markets — the U.S., EU, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia — aiming to become a strategic partner and quality reference unit in the global spice export sector.