January 30, 2007

Russia to inspect Vietnam seafood processing plants

The Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Physio-sanitary Surveillance (VPSS) plans to inspect Vietnam's fisheries at the end of this month.

The inspection will focus on the country's hygienic food safety and quality control system, said Deputy Director Tran Bich Nga of the Vietnam National Fisheries Quality Assurance and Veterinary Directorate (Nafiqaved).

At a seminar on Russia's regulations for seafood exports to the market held in Ho Chi Minh City on January 26, the Nafiqaved official said the VPSS inspection will serve as Russia's qualifying process for Vietnamese seafood producers to enter the Russian market.

However, Nga said Nafiqaved has asked VPSS to postpone their inspection until March in anticipation of the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) that will fall on February 17.

According to Deputy General Secretary General Truong Dinh Hoe of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP), the VPSS's inspection of seafood products will not only be conducted for Vietnam but also necessary for other countries exporting seafood to Russia.

Vietnam's seafood products are trying to meet international food hygiene and safety standards to corner more markets, he said.