November 8, 2006

Vietnamese shrimp exporters urged to reject untraceable shipments

Shrimp processors and exporters should reject shrimps from unknown sources, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) said.

VASEP believes shrimps from unknown sources are the culprits behind export shipments discovered to have anti-biotic residues. Such shipments are threatening the seafood trade between Japan and Vietnam as such cases have become more frequent this year. Japanese authorities have warned Vietnam that shipments may be banned if the situation worsens.

VASEP has asked members to take measures to control the quality of input material, Tran Thien Hai, Deputy Chairman of the Shrimp Sub-Committee said.

Exporters and processors are urged to get farmers to show them samples of food and medicine used so as to scrutinise the shrimp hatchery process.

The processors must reject shrimp materials that are untraceable, Hai said.

He also called on members to tighten food hygiene procedures at the processing plants.

Businesses whose shrimp consignments have been discovered as containing anti-biotic residues should track down the causes and find suitable solutions, he said.

To ensure compliance, the Ministry of Fisheries would conduct inspections in key shrimp provinces in the Cuu Long River Delta provinces, including Binh Thuan, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, and HCM City.

Japan has increased scrutiny of shrimps coming from Vietnam, and said all shrimp consignments from Vietnam would be inspected. The country has also threatened to ban Vietnamese shrimp if more consignments containing anti-biotic residues are found.