Vietnam strives to minimise residues in shrimp

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued a circular that requests authorities in cities and provinces nationwide to enhance checks on injections of prohibited substances in raw shrimp in order to counter the residues problem.

 

The move came after local seafood exporters warned that the injections are spreading in Mekong Delta provinces, particularly in Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang and Kien Giang, since a lot of traders rushed to buy the shrimp at any cost to export to China.

 

The fraudulent activity damages Vietnamese firms which are seeking for clean materials for processing to offer safe seafood products to the world market, said the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers.

 

To prevent the situation, authorities must take stricter measures such as setting up more inspection stations or destroying all substance-tampered shrimp before these products are being exported, the association proposed.

 

Vietnam targets to export US$1.9 billion worth of shrimp this year, including US$1.4 billion from prawn shrimp and US$500 million from white-legged shrimp.