Vietnam meets EU's standards on chemical handling in aquaculture

According to EU's Food and Veterinary Office, Vietnam has met the requirements on controlling harmful chemicals in aquaculture production.

In the final report on inspection tours to Vietnam aquaculture farms and seafood processing facilities last Oct 19-29 2009, FVO said Vietnamese agencies participating in the programme to control harmful chemicals in aquaculture and seafood export basically meet EU's requirements.

But Vietnam has to tighten management on the distribution of veterinarian medicines and raise punishment on facilities that use banned chemicals and antibiotic substances, Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) said.

The Vietnam General Customs Department said EU remained as the biggest market for Vietnamese seafood with total import volume of 75,220 tonnes valued at US$221 million in the first quarter of this year, accounting for 24.8% of Vietnam's total seafood export revenues and making on-year rises of 7.6% in volume and 8.9% in value.

FVO is under the Health and Consumer Protection Directorate General of the European Commission (DG-SANCO).