October 1, 2007

South Korea tightens seafood import standards

South Korean authorities have further tightened their checks on imported seafood, the Vietnam National Fisheries Assurance and Veterinary Association (NAFIQUAVED) said over the weekend.

The country's National Fisheries Product Quality Inspection Service (NFPQIS) has asked seafood importers to add two more standards to check the quality of seafood, said Sept 26.

The first standard requires the checking of Malachite Green on all aquaculture of fresh and frozen tortoise and fish, and the second involved testing for sulfur dioxide on fresh and frozen crabs.

South Korea does not permit any malachite green in farmed seafood.

Vietnam has 320 companies exporting seafood to South Korea.

South Korea is seeing a jump in seafood imports. The country currently accounts for close to 7 percent of Vietnam's seafood export revenues.