March 13, 2007

Russian inspectors arrive, will start assessment on Vietnam seafood facilities

A Russian mission arrived in Vietnam Monday (March 12) to inspect the enforcement of food safety standards in local seafood processing facilities. 

The inspection by the Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service (VPSS) aims to choose processors qualified for exporting seafood and other aquatic products to Russia, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors.

The Russian mission, from March 13-28, would examine the surveillance of fishing vessels and of safety and hygiene in local processing plants and storehouses.

The inspection had originally been slated for February, but was delayed due to the Vietnam's busy Tet activities.

Vietnam exported over 58,700 tonnes of aquatic products worth a total of US$126.3 million to Russia last year.

The National Fisheries Quality Assurance and Veterinary Directorate (Nafiqaved) stated a recent European Union inspection revealed that the country was making progress in monitoring antibiotic residues in marine products.

Vietnam was also set to remove obligatory inspections of seafood exports to the US and Canada after recent tests on Vietnamese batches proved to be qualified in line with hygiene norms, Nafiqaved said.

However, Japan is conducting checks on all shrimp imported from Vietnam after recent tests had revealed high levels of antibiotic residues.