November 7, 2005

Vietnam to inspect seafood exports to US

Vietnam's government said it would inspect all crab, shrimp and tra catfish exports before they are shipped to the US, to ensure there would be no antibiotic residues.

The preliminary inspections would last for three months, after which the Ministry of Fisheries would monitor the market and decide whether to extend or end inspections.

Deputy Minister of Fisheries Nguyen Thi Hong Minh had earlier called for the measures during an urgent meeting to improve seafood exports to the US.

Minh also asked the National Fisheries Quality Assurance and Veterinary Directorate (Nafiqaved) to cooperate with the ministry's science and technology department to work on a draft resolution on preventing antibiotic residues in export products.

The draft required mandatory testing for all crab, shrimp and catfish exports before shipment to the US. This would last for at least three months and products found with antibiotic residues would not be shipped.

In August this year, three US states had stopped importing Vietnamese basa and tra catfish after discovering antibiotic residues.

Vietnam's government has also asked Nafiqaved to inform the US Department of Commerce and the US Food and Drug Administration, about the country's resolve to ensure no antibiotic residues were found in exports to the US.