Traditional products are making significant contributions to the country's economy and improving people's lives. Therefore, to further develop these traditional products, the application of OCOP Products and OCOP certification is extremely necessary and holds great importance in elevating these products to greater heights.
What Are OCOP Products?
OCOP, short for "One Commune One Product," is a government-led program initiated in 2008 by the Vietnamese government. Its primary objective is to promote the development of rural areas by identifying and showcasing unique products or services from each commune in the country. These products range from handicrafts and food items to traditional medicines and more.
However, OCOP originated in Japan in the 1970s. Currently, OCOP has been adopted by more than 40 countries, including Vietnam, which has successfully implemented and achieved significant accomplishments through this program.
The OCOP program logo.
The brown letter "O": Symbolizes the land, the foundation of production, and the life of rural communities.
The green letter "C": Represents agriculture and sustainable production.
The red letter "O": Symbolizes the strength and intelligence of the Vietnamese people.
The yellow letter "P": Represents the benefits and profits of the program that every citizen and organization participating can enjoy.
The conditions for a product to be considered as OCOP (One Commune One Product) include.
Origin in a Specific Commune: The product must originate from a particular commune or locality, aligning with the "One Commune" aspect of the program.
Traditional or Unique Characteristics: The product should possess traditional, unique, or distinctive characteristics that set it apart from others in its category.
Quality and Standards: It must meet specific quality and production standards set by the OCOP program to ensure consistency and consumer confidence.
Community Involvement: The production of the product often involves the local community and contributes to the economic development of the commune.
Sustainability: There is an emphasis on sustainable production practices, ensuring that the environment is not adversely affected.
Grading and Certification: The product may undergo a grading process, with higher grades indicating superior quality. Certification is awarded based on these grades.
Marketability: The product should have the potential to be marketed and sold, both domestically and, in some cases, internationally.
Preservation of Culture: It may carry cultural or traditional significance, helping to preserve local heritage.
Economic Impact: The production and sale of the product should positively impact the livelihoods and income of the local community and contribute to rural development.
Compliance with Local Regulations: It should adhere to local regulations regarding production, safety, and quality.
Purpose and Significance of the OCOP Program.
The OCOP (One Commune One Product) program currently has three overarching objectives as follows:
Development of Individuals and Entities: To facilitate the organization of production of traditional products by individuals, collectives, cooperatives, small and medium-sized enterprises that possess advantages and meet established standards. This enables them to compete effectively in both domestic and international markets.
Regional Support and Economic Restructuring: To support regional development and promote economic restructuring, leading to increased benefits and higher incomes for the people. This includes the effective implementation of criteria groups related to "Economics and Production Organization" within the National Criteria Set and the New Rural Development Program.
Contribution to Rural Economic Benefits: By generating economic benefits for rural areas, the program contributes to the industrialization, modernization, and agricultural restructuring, as well as facilitating a more rational shift in the rural labor structure.
The OCOP product evaluation process consists of three levels.
District-Level Evaluation: Assessment conducted at the district level.
Provincial-Level Evaluation: Evaluation carried out at the provincial level.
Central-Level Evaluation: Assessment performed at the central level.
At each level, leadership establishes an Evaluation Council comprising officials from relevant departments and sectors. At each level, the evaluation criteria and requirements for each product gradually increase, ensuring stringent standards for each product are met.