December 29, 2006

Japan begins inspecting 100% of Vietnam-sourced shrimp

The Vietnam Ministry of Trade yesterday announced that Japan had begun applying the order to inspect 100% of batches of natural shrimp (including preliminarily treated products) from Vietnam.

The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has decided to inspect all batches of Vietnamese shrimps on December 28 after its continuous defiance on the Japanese food hygiene and safety. Recent violations were the shrimp exports coming from Nam Can Seafood Import and Export Company in Ca Mau Province that were found to contain Chloramphenicol.

The banned substance was also found in Vietnamese dried cuttlefish.

An industry executive said the Japanese inspection will affect Vietnamese seafood exporters as it would take 45 days for clearance from the usual 3-5 days of customs authorisation.