This booklet was prepared for the readers to easy understand about Vietnamese Pangasius and Pangasius industry.

Vietnamese Pangasius are highly appreciated by local and international consumers, not only for its high nutritious value, white muscle, without horizontal bones, without smell of sediment and seaweed a little of taste lipid content, but also for its safety to all consumers in all age groups.

Vietnamese Pangasius is a species of traditional farming by farmers in the Mekong River Delta. To meet high demand of global and domestic consumers, after 10 year development since 1996, fish farming area has been expanded nearly 6,000 hectares in 10 Mekong Delta provinces.

Most of fish farming area are strictly managed in accordance with national regulations on food safety and environmental protection. Until June 2012, over a half of fish farming area nationwide is audited and certified by internationally sustainable standards such as GlobalGAP, AquaGAP, BAP/GAA and ASC (recently certified). The process of auditing and certifying for Vietnamese pangasius is being carried out strictly according to requirements of consumers which proved that Vietnamese pangasius is not only loved by tasty smell with high nutritious value but it also satisfies strict requirements of the market.

Vietnam has nearly 100 pangasius exporting and processing companies in which their processing facilities are equipped modern equipments and controlled in accordance with HACCP. Pangasius products are being exported to 145 countries and territories worldwide such as EU, the U.S., ASEAN, Canada, the Middle East, China, Japan, etc. Fish export volume and value to markets reported steady annual growth of 10 - 18 percent, worth by US$1.8 - 2 billion per year in two recent years.

The booklet compiled under the Q & A form provides basic knowledge of pangasius, techniques of farming and processing, quality management, information of importers and the government’s regulations on breeding, processing and exporting specific fish products.

 

Editorial Board

Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP)

Head office: 218 street No.6, Lot A, An Phu - An Khanh New Urban Area, District 2, Hochiminh, Vietnam

Tel: (+84 8) 6281 0430 / Fax: (+84 8) 6281 0438

Email: vasephcmcity@vasep.com.vn

Rep. office: 10 Nguyen Cong Hoan street, Ngoc Khanh Ward, Ba Dinh, Ha Noi, Vietnam

Tel: (+84.4) 3771 5055; Fax: (+84.4) 3771 5084

E-mail: vasephn@vasep.com.vn

 

Which standards have been applying in Pangasius farms in Vietnam?

Pangasius farms are required to meet hygiene and veterinary conditions and to be in compliance with following Vietnamese regulations: 

-    Circular No.22/2014/TT-BNNPTNT dated July 29 2014 regulating National Technical Standards on conditions for aquaculture.

-    QCVN 02-20:2014/BNNPTNT on national technical standards pangasius farms (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus Sauvage, 1878) - ensuring veterinary hygiene, environmental protection, food safety.

-    Decision No. 1990 / QD-BKHCN August 4, 2014 issuing National standards.

-    National Standards 9963:2014 Freshwater Fish - Pangasius  - Technical Requirements.

-    Decree No. 36/2014/ND-CP dated April 29, 2014, on raising, processing, and exporting pangasius.

-    Decision No. 130/2008/QD-BNN dated December 31, 2008 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development promulgating the Regulation on control of harmful substances residues in aquaculture fish and products thereof.

-    Circular 44/2010 / TT-BNN dated July 22, 2010 on conditions on food safety and hygiene-guaranteed intensive pangasius rearing area.

- The Circular No. 03/2011/TT-BNNPTNT dated January 21st 2011 regulating traceability and revoking aquatic products which fail to ensure food safety and hygiene.

Apart from the respect of master plan of farming zones, environment and food safety aspects as required by Vietnamese regulations, rearing zones and establishments have also applying international standards as required by client to ensure sustainable development with 4 criteria criterias: food safety, environment responsibility, social responsibility and traceability. International standards include: 

- VietGAP;

- GLOBAL G.A.P (Global Good Agricultural Practice)  ;

BAP (Best Aquaculture Practice);

- ASC;

- SQF 1000CM (Safe & Quality Food).