The success of the country was revealed in the recent draft report, prepared by the European Union (EU) Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) team. The team visited the country from March 24 to April 01 this year.
The draft report said: 'Improvements were seen in the residue monitoring system particularly in the laboratories. In contrast to the findings in 2010, the analytical methods used for the residue monitoring programme in crustaceans and for the pre-export testing are now validated and fit for purpose.'
The EU authority has sent the draft report to the Department of Fisheries (DoF) last week. The EU also downsized its list of recommendations, which are not fully addressed by the country's authority, to four from twelve of last year.
'We have improved much in all our aquaculture compliances that the last EU FVO team recommended, and it is reflected in the draft report,' Shamsul Kibria, joint secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (MoFL), told the FE Friday.
'We will take measures to comply with the four recommendations, suggested in the draft report, within this year. We will provide our response to the EU authority regarding our initiatives to fulfil those recommendations by this month, and also request them to withdraw the stringent testing measure.'
'It's a matter of time, and we hope that the EU authority will take its decision in our favour, as the draft report has said about our improvements in residue control and fulfilling their other requirements,' Mr Kibria said.
Echoing the MoFL official, Mahbubur Rahman, director general of DoF, said though the report does not give any hint regarding the withdrawal of the 20 per cent stringent mandatory testing requirement, it will help us raise the issue of withdrawal to the EU authority.
The DoF chief said: 'We are now confident and hopeful about the withdrawal of the 20 per cent testing requirement, following our improvements.'
Exporters say withdrawal of the 20 per cent testing requirement that the EU authority had imposed on Bangladeshi shrimp export since July 15 last year, largely depends on the report of the team.
'This time the report will help exporters to seek justice from the EU authority,' an exporter said.
The exporters and officials have termed the visit as crucial for the shrimp industry, saying it would determine the fate of the country's third largest foreign currency earning item.
In 2010, local exporters received only four rapid alerts, while the number was 54 in 2009. It also proves the country's efficiency in complying with the foreign buyers' demands, the exporter said.
During the ten-day visit, the team scrutinised the present situation in residue control in living animals and animal products, and the control of veterinary medicinal products. The measures are seen as key requirements for export of shrimps to the 27 EU countries.
The DoF said during the visit the EU delegation monitored whether the country's fish farms, landing stations, depots and processing plants have enforced some key health and hygiene standards, suggested during its visit early last year.
The EU is the largest importer of Bangladeshi shrimps, accounting for nearly 50 per cent of the shipments made last year. The country exported shrimps worth $470.53 million in the July-March period of 2010-11 fiscal, recording a robust growth of 58 per cent.
Shrimp farming is one of the key sources of employment in the country's south-western coastal region. The country's 130 shrimp processing plants and tens of thousands of farms employ over one million people.
By Monira Munni
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) – On March 19, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a meeting with the European Commission (EC) inspection delegation on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, led by Mr. Fernando Andresen Guimaraes, Head of Unit at the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE).
(vasep.com.vn) Australia is emerging as one of the most stable and promising growth markets for Vietnamese shrimp. Amid global trade disruptions driven by geopolitical tensions—particularly conflicts in the Middle East—strengthening and expanding into stable markets like Australia has become increasingly important for Vietnam’s shrimp industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s squid and octopus exports reached over USD 111 million, up 23% compared to the same period in 2025. This result indicates a positive start for the sector, reflecting early signs of demand recovery in multiple markets from the beginning of the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s fisheries sector maintained positive growth momentum, with shrimp output exceeding 132 thousand tons. This result contributed to a strong increase in seafood export turnover, despite ongoing volatility in the global economy.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports maintained strong growth momentum in February 2026, with many markets recording sharp increases compared to the same period last year. In February alone, export value reached USD 8.4 million, up 148% year-on-year. Cumulatively, in the first two months of 2026, total tilapia export turnover hit USD 23 million, soaring 242% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In global seafood trade, sensory evaluation is increasingly becoming one of the key “technical barriers” in many importing markets-especially the United States. Issues such as filth, and signs of decomposition/spoilage are often detected through sensory evaluation methods and remain common reasons for seafood import alerts, detentions, or shipment rejections.
Shrimp has been the most important export product of Vietnam’s seafood industry for many years, typically accounting for 35–45% of the country’s total seafood export value. With a well-developed farming, processing, and export system, Vietnam has become one of the world’s leading shrimp exporters.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn