After a year of public comment period, the draft Decree was submitted to the government on October 14th, 2013. However, there were some issues in this decree cannot bring a leverage to drive Vietnam pangasius industry towards a sustainable development, according to VASEP.
On November 18th, 2013, the Association sent the Prime Minister the Official Letter No.248 on a petition regarding its three recommendations on the decree as the follows:
Pangasius production and exports
Among 236 pangasius exporters in Vietnam, there are currently about 94 companies owning processing plants, but they contributed 90 percent to national pangasius export value. Export companies without processing plants accounted for only 10 percent in value.
These players are purchasing low quality fish to process products and sell them at low price to compete with other suppliers. This leads to negative impacts to the whole pangasiu industry, especially to the image and price of the fish in the global market.
To solve this problem, according to VASEP, only pangasius companies with their own processing plants, which meet regulations on food safety and traceability, are eligible to sell products to foreign markets. The solution is believed to maintain the supply-demand balance as well as efficiency management of pangasius production and exports.
Regulations on water content and glazing in exported pangasius
Currently, Vietnam provides various kinds of pangasius products from frozen fillets to value-added items. However, fish fillets made up of over 90 percent in exports to key markets. Therefore, a set of general quality standards is needed to protect the prestige and image of pangasius fillets in the global market, as well as contribute to preventing over glazing in exported fish.
VASEP required the Prime Minister to assign a ministry to be responsible for setting up the standars and monitoring the implementation of these compulsory standards on product quality in the nationwide.
Regulation on the role of the Association in management of pangasius processors and exporters
In its third recommendation, VASEP requested the Prime Minister to direct the MARD and Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) to reconsider and regulate the Association’s essential roles in monitoring their members’ implementation of regulations relating to pangasius production, export and markets in the Decree.
VASEP was an association for seafood production and export, which has 15 years in supporting seafood companies in the development and maintaining export markets, improving production and global integration capacity and combating against international trade barriers.
VASEP’s members are leading pangasius producers, processors and exporters, which consist of key driven to lead the fish industry towards a sustainable development. These companies have been actively providing more than 60 percent of their needs of raw fish for processing and contributing over 80 percent to national pangasius export value. Many of them are focusing on investments in a closed pangasius value chain, which is seen as the base of a comprehensive pangasius quality and export governance.
On July 22, 2026, the Government issued Decree No. 292/2026/ND-CP detailing certain articles and providing measures for the organization and implementation of the Law on Foreign Trade Management. The Decree takes effect on September 5, 2026, replacing Decree No. 69/2018/ND-CP.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese pangasius producer Vinh Hoan has won the top prize at the 2026 Seafood Excellence Asia Awards for its Cured Panga Croquette, highlighting the growing potential of value-added pangasius products in international markets.
(vasep.com.vn) The Global Shrimp Forum (GSF) 2026 is taking place from September 1–3 in Utrecht, the Netherlands, bringing together around 585 delegates from 40 countries, representing approximately 300 companies and organizations across the shrimp supply chain. Representatives from VASEP are attending the event as part of the Vietnamese delegation, strengthening connections with partners across the global shrimp industry.
(vasep.com.vn) At the international B2B seminar (Hosted Buyer Program) held as part of Vietfish 2026, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Pham, Sales Director of Tai Kim Anh Seafood Processing Joint Stock Company, delivered a presentation entitled “Vietnam’s Shrimp Industry: Changing for Sustainability.” From the perspective of a seafood processor, the presentation highlighted that Vietnam’s shrimp industry continues to play a leading role in seafood exports, but is entering a new phase of competition in which change is no longer an option, but a prerequisite for growth.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) VIETFISH 2026 may have concluded after three dynamic days in Ho Chi Minh City, but conversations around the exhibition continue to resonate across international trade media, industry organizations, and the social media channels of participating companies.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia industry is maintaining strong growth momentum, with significant room for further expansion in the coming years. In 2025, total tilapia production reached approximately 420,000 tonnes, up 33% from 2024 and 2.2 times higher than in 2015. During 2015–2025, production grew at an average annual rate of around 8.4%. As production and exports continue to expand, food safety control is receiving increasing attention to ensure product quality, meet the increasingly stringent requirements of international markets, and provide a foundation for the sustainable development of Vietnam’s tilapia industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of August 19, 2026, as part of the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026, the Hosted Buyer Program continued with the seminar “Vietnam Seafood Outlook 2026–2027: A Strategic Sourcing Destination,” followed by 1-to-1 B2B meetings between international buyers and Vietnamese seafood businesses.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of VIETFISH 2026 on August 19 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), U.S. Consul General Melissa Brown highlighted the important role of the exhibition in connecting Vietnam’s growing seafood industry with buyers, suppliers, and partners from the United States and around the world.
(vasep.com.vn) Tomorrow, August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026 will officially open at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, Vietfish 2026 promises to provide a dynamic platform for business networking, trend updates, product experiences and comprehensive cooperation across the domestic and international seafood community.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market continues to grow, creating significant opportunities for countries with strengths in aquaculture, processing, and exports. Against this backdrop, Vietnam’s tilapia industry is gradually developing toward higher quality, greater product diversification, and broader market reach. At Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), together with the VASEP Tilapia Producers and Exporters Club, will host a joint booth to promote the image and potential of Vietnamese tilapia to domestic and international buyers.
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
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