October 30, 2007

 

More Vietnamese exporters get export licence from Russia

 

 

Ten more Vietnamese seafood exporters have received licences from the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Physio-Sanitary Surveillance (VPSS), totalling 24 approved seafood exporters bound for Russia.

 

The 10 seafood processors include An Giang Frozen 9 factory, which is part of the An Giang Fisheries Export and Import JSC (Agifish), An Xuyen Ltd Co, Thuan Hung Ltd Co, Hiep Thanh Seafood JSC, Sao Ta Foods JSC, Trung Son Foods JSC, Hung Vuong JSC, QDV-Dong Thap Foods Ltd Co, Hai Thanh Ltd Co and Ninh Thuan Agricultural Product Export Co.

 

Truong Dinh Hoe, General Secretary of Vietnam's Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP), said the approval of ten more exporters is a "good news for the sector and that indicates Vietnam will succeed in promoting quality system, despite the difficulties early this year."

 

VPSS have visited Vietnam in September for the third time this year to inspect the country's seafood plants and its sanitation regulations.

 

In related news, seafood exports to the Japanese market recovered strongly. According to VASEP, the country's seafood exports to Japan have already totalled US$525 million.

 

Hoe said the increase was due to soaring demand of seafood products in Japan and Vietnam's aggressive marketing and quality promotion.

 

Nafiqaved has ordered local enterprises to improve production in order to meet Japanese sanitation requirements.

 

The department stipulated that only enterprises that could ensure food hygiene safety would be permitted to export to Japan.

 

According to Hoe, the local seafood sector this year seemed better than last year, marked by a 13 percent growth rate increase. Moreover, local enterprises succeeded in expanding to 135 countries and territories.

 

The VASEP chief said the sector could gain US$3.6 billion in exports by the end of the year and hopes to target Australia and more of Russian market. To achieve this, more effort should be exerted on sanitation procedures, Hoe stressed.