The Farm Bill 2014 was lately approved by the U.S. Senate; accordingly, the inspection of catfish will be shifted from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), said Nguyen Duy Khien, Head of American market Department, under Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Unfeasible standards
The FDA has been undertaking inspections of pangasius products imported from Vietnam accidently and it has not delivered quality certificates for passed items. However, with the new rule, the USDA will inspect all steps in the pangasius production chain in Vietnam. Especially, the agency focuses on the control of quality and food safety in processing facilities. Vietnamese processors and exporters would be granted the quality certificate to export products the market if they meet all standards which are applied for American companies. These are such unfeasible requirements, which are pushing Vietnam pangasius into trouble.
The U.S. and the EU are two main markets for Vietnamese pangasius. In 2013, Vietnam pangasius exports to the U.S., valued at US$380 million. Pangasius took a major part in American market. U.S. imports of frozen pangasius fillets has seen strong remarkable rise since 2007. In 2012, the country sourced 213.8 million of pounds of catfish, up 255 percent compared to 60.1 million of pounds in 2007. The American farmed catfish production was 300.1 million of pounds in 2012, down 40 percent against 496 million of pounds in 2007. Market shares of this kind of fish was on the decrease while those of pangasius from Vietnam increase from 37 percent in 2007 to 76 percent in 2012. In 2012, American consumers ate 0.73 kilogram of imported pangasius averagely, up 105 percent against 2009 because price for domestic catfish rose highly.
It is clear to note that Vietnamese pangasius is more and more popular in the U.S. However, this trend may be curbed by the new rule.
The U.S. sets up stricter technical barriers to attempt to hinder the increasingly high growth in imports of pangasius from Vietnam. In this case, the willingness of quality control is not a real reason.
If the rule is implemented, pangasius products from Vietnam are hard to meet its unfeasible standards, which even create challenges to the American catfish industry. Pangasius farming in Vietnam is different from catfish farming in the U.S, which requires high production costs. This means that the U.S. aims to shut the door on Vietnamese fish, a Vietnamese fish exporters said.
An Giang and Dong Thap are two main pangasius producing hubs in Vietnam in terms of farming area and production. Currently, Dong Thap remains superficies for pangasius farming at about 1,200 hectares, for annual production of 350,000 MT. Over years, most of local pangasius farmers are investing in farm management system in order to ensure the quality of raw fish for processing to export. Products from Vietnam have been welcomed by many consumer markets. However, with the new rule, it takes Vietnamese players a long time to meet the U.S. new standards, leading to higher input costs
The Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trade has sent an official letter to the U.S. relevant agencies to protest the unfair rule of the U.S. Farm Bill 2014.
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.
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