Last year, Vietnam’s fishery industry at the same time took urgent measures on banned chemicals and antibiotics in seafood consignments exported to Japan, applied new permitted level of chemicals in seafood exported to Russia and reinforced inspection and control in using chemicals and antibiotics in fishery farming, processing and glazing level.
In 2007, antibiotic residue control was implemented in all main farming areas in Vietnam on major species such as tiger shrimp, pangasius, tilapia, crab, and scampi. Safety and hygiene control system were applied in 100% mollusc harvesting regions. The system was recognised to meet standards by EU inspector team visiting Vietnam in September. Mollusc products of Vietnam have been accepted by luxurious markets like EU, US and Japan.
This year, the number of industrial scale seafood processors which are recognised to satisfy food safety and hygiene conditions and allowed to export to international markets, is up 16% over 2006.
With great efforts in cooperation with Russia Federal Service for Veterinary Physio-Sanitary Surveillance (VPSS) during their three inspection tours in Vietnam as well as in repairing violations, up to now, 24 enterprises are approved to export to Russia.
Relating to picky Japan market, in 2007, Vietnam’ fishery industry organised 120 training courses on applying new regulations of this market for over 3,500 fishers, farmers and processors across the country. Thanks to this, the ratio of alerted and refused seafood consignments by Japan has tumbled from 4.6% in 2006 to 0.5%.
In 2007, EU inspector delegation visited Vietnam two times. The efforts of Vietnam’s fishery industry in ensuring sanitary conditions and good quality of products have acknowledged by EU inspectors.
At present, National Fisheries Quality Assurance and Veterinary Directorate (Nafiqaved) is negotiating with US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in cooperation fields. If agreed, Nafiqaved certified enterprises will enjoy exam remission when their seafood products are exported to US.
In 2008, Doctor Nguyen Tu Cuong, Director of Nafiqaved said that it requires to supplement well trained technicians and set up fishery quality control departments under local People Committees to manage better fishery quality safety and hygiene.