International Training Courses 2014 - Third Round in Viet Nam:
SHRIMP - PANGASIUS SENSORY EVALUATION
Sensory evaluation is one of the compulsory procedures at import inspection stations of many importing countries; especially in the United States, inspectors of the Food Administration and Drug (US FDA) directly take samples and inspect imported seafood product consignments. According to statistics of the US FDA and imported seafood warning channels, reasons related to sensory evaluations for which seafood shipments were rejected or seafood enterprises were put on warning lists usually have been accounted the highest rate, in which the most reasons were filth and decomposition..
According to sensory evaluation experts, enterprises can fully identify and eliminate defects related to sensory at the enterprises through implementation of a preliminary sensory evaluation during whole process from raw material reception to step before shipment. This significantly helps enterprises eliminate/reduce substandard products to avoid consequences related to economic damage or reputation damage of the enterprises.
With importance of seafood product sensory evaluation knowledge and skills for export enterprise staff, the VASEP Training and Trade Promotion Center (VASEP.PRO) under of Vietnam Association of Seafood Entrepreneurs (VASEP) intend to conduct two training courses in sensory evaluation for the two main export seafood subjects including shrimp and pangasius with the teaching and practice guidance of Mr. James Barnett, a leading sensory expert of the United States and a former senior official of the U.S. FDA:
I. Time and Venue:
- 24-25 Nov, 2014: Fresh/Frozen Shrimp Sensory.
- 27 Nov, 2014: Pangasius Species: US FDA and Import Concerns.
In Cuu Long Hotel (***) 52 Quang Trung Str., Ninh Kieu Dist., Can Tho City, Viet Nam
II. Training course contents
1. Regulations and standards of the US FDA on acceptable and rejectable levels in sensory evaluation as well as food safety hazards.
2. Tools and techniques of sensory and quality assessment practices of:
- Prawn, including fresh and cooked shrimp and frozen shrimp of 2 main export species of Vietnam: black tiger shrimp and vannamei shrimp.
- Pangasius
3. Sensory evaluation practice on shrimp and pangasius samples.
III. Participants
1. QA/QC, Sensory evaluators, technicians in seafood processing enterprises.
2. Quality control staff, researchers and analyzers at institutes, universities and governmental authorities related to seafood quality.
3. Interested individual, raw material collectors, middlemen.
IV. Expert: MR. JAMES BARNETT
James Barnett with over 33 years experience working for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a food and seafood sensory analyst and then as FDA’s National/International Seafood Sensory Expert, He brings to the table valuable sensory knowledge.
Further details please contact us:
Programme Officer: Ms Ngoc Dzung, Tel: +84.43.8354496 – Ext 223; Mobile: +84 988-428-828, Email: ngocdung@vasep.com.vn
Programme Officer: Ms Hien Nguyen, Tel: +84.43.8354496 – Ext 210; Mobile: +84 906-076-587, Email: thuhien@vasep.com.vn
Sensory Evaluation 2014. Can Tho Viet Nam
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
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