(vasep.com.vn) In October 4th 2012, National Agro–Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department (NAFIQAD) has sent the official letter No. 1640/QLCL-CL1 to domestic fish exporters to Canada on controlling Nitroimidazoles residue in aquacultured fish exported to Canada.
As of October 1st 2012, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will add substances (HMMNI, IPZ, IPZ-OH, MNZ, MNZ-OH, RNZ, DMZ) in Nitroimidazoles group to monitoring program for Nitroimidazoles use in farmed fish and crustaceans which include domestic fish and imported fish. Nitroimidazoles are banned for sale and use in animals intended for consumption as food, including seafood.
Farmed fish and crustacean consignments exported to Canada are in violation if they are detected to contain Nitroimidazoles residue through test by mass spectrometry.
To control Nitroimidazoles residue in aquacultured fish consignments exported to Canada from Vietnam, NAFIQAD requested seafood processors and exporters to Canada:
1. To add into Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans Nitroimidazoles hazard detection and control in producing aquacultured fish and crustacean shipped to Canada.
2. To actively communicate with Canadian importers to update Canadian regulatory requirements for Nitroimidazoles use in aquaculture products.
Kim Thu