December 5, 2006

Vietnam to strictly monitor Japanese-bound aquatic products

The Vietnam Ministry of Fisheries said it will tighten control over the raising, preserving and processing of aquatic products bound to Japan in its bid to improve the quality of exports.

The Vietnamese News Agency reported the Ministry has asked the National Fisheries Quality Assurance and Veterinary Directorate (Nafiqaved) to strictly supervise the quality of materials input and to monitor all the batches for export to Japan, especially from processors whose exports were previously discovered to have been contaminated with antibiotics.

Nafiqaved is also required to work with the General Department of Customs to make public the results of their inspections on the department's website.

The agency is also requested to regularly report the measures to ensure hygiene and safety for aquatic products, particularly measures to control antibiotic residues, to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan and the country's related agencies.