July 31, 2007

Vietnam fishing authority exempt 56 seafood exporters for antibiotic testing

The Vietnam National Fisheries Quality Assurance and Veterinary Directorate (NAFIQAVED) has exempted fifty six seafood exporters exempted for antibiotic and chemical level testing for its exports to Japan.

The companies will be announced on August 1 and details regarding the exporters will be updated every 15th of the month. According to NAFIQAVED, these enterprises have religiously followed the agency's stringent requirements.

On July 11, the Ministry of Fisheries signed a decision to apply urgent measures to control antibiotic and chemical residue in seafood products exported to Japan following succeeding violations found by Japanese authorities on Vietnamese shipments.

Under the decision, only those enterprises that have obtained certificates for meeting hygienic standards from the Fisheries Ministry are permitted to export to Japan.