It is expected that the new BAP farm standards will go live in the spring of 2013, following further technical scrutiny by the Standards Oversight Committee. Currently, the comments -- which were received from fish farmers, academics and NGOs from Australasia, Asia, Europe and America -- are being reviewed and will be published, along with the BAP responses and any changes to the standards, on the GAA website.
Logistics aside, the new BAP farm standards tackle the issue of social responsibly much more rigorously than the previous BAP farm standards, which were separately tailored for shrimp, salmon, tilapia, Pangasius and catfish. According to the GAA the new BAP farm standards apply to all types of production systems for finfish and crustaceans, excluding cage-raised salmonids, for which separate BAP farm standards exist.
Awareness of social responsibility -- and the need to ensure that workers on farms and in processing plants are safe and treated fairly -- has increased significantly in the decade since the first BAP farm standards for shrimp were created, said BAP Standards Coordinator Dan Lee.
In fact, the new BAP farm standards contain 33 clauses relating to worker safety and employee relations, compared to just 12 clauses in the BAP farm standards they are replacing.
"If you consider that the BAP shrimp farm standards were launched almost a decade ago and how the industry has progressed, it’s easy to understand that the consensus on best practices for social accountability has evolved and requirements are now stricter and more comprehensive. Thus, during a BAP inspection, the third-party auditor is now expected to spend more time probing social issues," Lee said. "What stands out now is that the requirements are spelled out in greater detail so that program participants can be under no illusions about the high standards needed to get a BAP certificate."
Lee said the new standards are much more detailed.
"Examples of topics that are now covered in more detail are child labor, forced or bonded labor, wages, benefits, holidays and overtime, deductions, migrant workers, sub-contracted workers, piece workers, contracts and harassment. On top of all this, there are requirements relating to worker health and safety. So, in total, the requirements amount to a very comprehensive package of assurance," he said.
There’s a heightened awareness of social responsibility as of late. What would you say to a seafood supplier or retailer who’s increasingly concerned that a particular country’s labor laws are lacking or aren’t being properly enforced? Can a third-party certification program like the BAP program be part of the solution?
Lee added that seafood companies worried about labor law enforcement from their suppliers may find the new BAP standards particulary of interest.
"Nearly all countries have detailed labor laws, and they are often drafted to comply with international labor standards. But the problem is, to a very great extent, one of weak enforcement. Third-party schemes can play a valuable role in ensuring that legal requirements are complied with. And it is the export sector that often leads the way in driving up social standards. The BAP program has the added advantage of tackling social issues at all levels of the supply chain, including at the hatchery, feed mill and processing plant, as well as the farm."
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The “Moringa Noodles Salad” product by Sa Giang Import-Export Corporation was honored as one of the “Top 10 Winning Products” at the THAIFEX – Anuga taste Innovation Show 2026, held as part of THAIFEX – Anuga Asia 2026 in Bangkok.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a fairly strong upward trend in 2025, Vietnam’s clam exports entered 2026 with a mixed picture: strong growth at the beginning of the year, followed by a slowdown from March onward. According to Vietnam Customs data, Vietnam’s clam export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached more than USD 38 million, up 2% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is facing new opportunities to expand its development space as many localities and businesses begin promoting marine farming models aimed at diversifying farming areas and adapting to climate change. However, for pangasius to truly “go offshore” and develop into a large-scale industry segment, significant challenges related to technology, broodstock, and markets still need to be addressed.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports in April 2026 reached USD 11 million, up 92% compared to the same period in 2025. This strong growth indicates that Vietnamese tilapia products are continuing to penetrate and expand rapidly in international markets. Cumulative export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 49 million, up 151% year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com) At VietShrimp Asia 2026, disease management trends in shrimp farming are shifting strongly from treatment-based approaches toward proactive prevention through environmental and pond ecosystem control.
(vasep.com.vn) After a period of strong growth, with export turnover reaching USD 38 million in Q1/2026 — up 174% year-on-year — the sector’s rapid expansion clearly reflects growing market opportunities.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the ASEAN bloc reached USD 44 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025. After falling to the lowest level of the quarter at USD 9 million in February — reflecting the seasonal slowdown in orders after the festive period — exports recovered strongly to USD 18 million in March, the highest monthly value of the quarter. This development shows that import demand for pangasius in ASEAN remains relatively stable despite short-term fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On May 11, 2026, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a positive comparability finding for Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries, along with those of Indonesia and Sri Lanka, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With this decision, seafood and seafood products harvested from Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries will continue to be eligible for import into the US market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a slowdown in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Germany showed more positive signs in the first quarter of 2026. However, the recovery remains uncertain as consumer demand in Germany is still cautious, while market competition is increasingly driven by pricing and supply stability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a sharp decline in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel are showing positive signs of recovery in the early months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover to this market grew steadily month by month in Q1/2026, reaching nearly USD 10 million, up 33% compared to the same period in 2025. However, compared to Q1/2024, this level remains significantly lower, indicating that the recovery is still in its early stage following last year’s strong adjustment.
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