November 23, 2007

Vietnam to impose strict quality control for Australian-bound shrimp

As of November 20, export consignments of shrimp without peels and heads to Australia, which have not undergone heat treatment or deep processing, will have samples tested to find diseases before clearance.

The Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) imposed strict quality control for Australian-bound shrimp exports such as taking samples for testing some kinds of diseases, including white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), Infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV) and yellow head virus (YHV).

The decision was made after Australian agencies announced the application of temporary measures to quarantine shrimp imports.

Under the implementation of the temporary measures, Australia would consider re-granting import licenses in accordance with the country's regulations on imports quarantine.

The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors has earlier decided to release a petition, protesting against Australia's temporary quarantine measures applied on shrimp imports. The new measures now being applied by Australian agencies show unsuitable points if compared to the measures applied since 2000.

According to MARD, since Australia applies new measures on shrimp imports quarantine, Vietnam's seafood exports to the market have decreased sharply by 44 percent in quantity, 51 percent in export turnover compared to the same period of 2006.

Most export items to Australia have seen turnover decreases, except for tra and basa, posting a little increase.

Vietnam now has 71 seafood licensed exporters for Australia. The biggest exporters are Thuan Hung, Agifish An Giang and Vinh Hoan. The MARD fears that the strict quarantine regulations applied by Australian agencies would set big barriers to Vietnam¡¯s seafood exports to the market.