March 18, 2008

Vietnam attains easier access to EU seafood market through Italy

Vietnam and Italy announced to cooperate in boosting the export of seafood and agricultural products to the EU.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on food quality control has been signed by Nguyen Tu Cuong, head of the National Fisheries Quality Assurance and Veterinary Directorate (Nafiqaved), and Romano Marabelli, general director of the Italian Ministry of Health's Department of Food, Nutrition and Public Health.

Marabelli encouraged Vietnam to export more to Italy, especially products that include shrimp, tra and basa catfish.

However, he advised that the country's food exports must meet hygiene safety standards in order to protect consumers' health.

In response to this, the Vietnamese representative emphasised the need to raise producers' awareness of food safety and increase the control of functional agencies.

Currently, around 269 Vietnamese companies have been permitted to export to the EU and Italy.