July 27, 2011

Canada detects antibiotic residue in Vietnamese tra fish

Canada has detected a residue of the antibiotic Enrofloxacin on Vietnam's tra fish in a shipment, according to Vietnam's commercial attaché in Canada.

The Canada Food Inspection Agency has proposed a ban after finding a residue level exceeding 0.06 part per billion (ppb), said the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (Vasep).

This is the first time Canada has sounded the alarm bell over Vietnam's tra fish tainted with toxic substances. Canada Consumer Product Safety Act that took effect on June 20, 2011 has set tighter safety requirements for import of seafood products, including Tra.

Earlier, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare also informed Vasep and other Vietnamese authorities of its finding of antibiotic in two shrimp batches shipped from Vietnam, with one containing Enrofloxacin. Japan on June 10 raised the check rate applied to Vietnam shrimp from 30% to 100%.

Nguyen Nhu Tiep, director of the National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department responsible for checking toxic substances on seafood shipments, refused to comment on the matter and said he would seek further details.

Canada is among the largest importers of Vietnam's seafood, after European countries, the US, Japan, Korea and Hong Kong. Tra fish accounts for one third of Vietnam's total seafood exports in the year to date.