Vietnam obliged to meet higher seafood standards

Vietnam's seafood firms must apply international standards to meet the import requirements of large markets, according to the international certification agency Bureau Veritas Vietnam.

 

The standards include Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), Global Partnership for Good Agricultural Practice (Global GAP), environmental management system ISO 14001 and International Food Standard, said training director of Bureau Veritas Vietnam Do Thi Lan Nhi.

 

She said the certificate would help increase companies' competitiveness in domestic and foreign markets and ensure customer trust. Vietnam needs to invest more in training seafood farmers and producers in producing hygienic, safe products in the breeding, processing and trading sectors. Quality guarantees would be assured with standards like HACCP and others.

 

Large import markets such as Europe, the US and Japan have strict requirements on food safety and quality as well as product origin. Many products must also be environmentally friendly.

 

The ISO 14001 certification includes requirements on sustainability and environmental protection.

 

Do Thanh Muon, seafood manager of Bureau Veritas Vietnam, said the Global Gap standard was used for many kinds of agricultural products, including seafood. The certificate is reassurance that food has reached an accepted level of safety and quality and has been produced sustainably, respecting the health, safety and welfare of workers and the environment, as well as animal welfare issues.

 

The Global Gap certificate demonstrates to clients, including retailers, product traders and importers, that good agricultural or fish farming practices have been used. Having the certificate also reduces the need for inspections of farms because major retailers recognise the certificate's validity.

 

According to the Vietnam Seafood Exporters and Producers Association, in the first five months of the year, the country exported 248,834 tonnes of tra catfish worth US$533 million.