(vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese farmers and processing companies are dealing with many international standards for the quality of exported fish and shrimp required by foreign markets while they are confused about which advantages these certification program can bring back.
Currently, there are more than 20 sets of standards applied for fish farming and processing units, including SQF 1000, BAP, ACC, GlobalGAP, MSC and ASC.
Each year, fish farmers and processors have to spend a lot of money on pursuing certification programs or renewal of their certificates. Though all of the certification programs call for voluntary participation of players in the fishery industry, local companies are still obligated to apply different quality standards in fish production chain if they want to satisfy requirements from foreign importers and consumers in different markets.
International standards for fish certification have four common criteria: food safety, environmental security, disease protection and social welfare. For example, the new ASC standard builds the same criteria as what have been applied in the GlobalGAP program.
Many export companies complain that they find hard to push up quotations of certified-fish products, which have to much depend on the global market’s price. Exported fish and shrimp products even saw lower value in the market.
Too many quality standards are leading to a serious confusion over the product quality and consistency between fish processors and main importers. Duplicate required standards also make Vietnamese processors pay high and unnecessary costs for fish farming activities, as well as loose foreign consumers’ confidence when their message on products are not consistent.
Recently, Vietnam Directorate of Fisheries announced its plan to build up VietGAP standard for pangasius, which is harmonized with other international standards. VietGAP is expected to help fish farmers and processors reduce spending and time to reach effective results.