March 31, 2011

VASEP warns seafood companies of illegal substance

The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) has cautioned local businesses to be aware of contamination of export products with enrofloxacin and BKC (benzalkonium chloride).

The Japanese authorities will check 30% of seafood imported from Vietnam after they found products from China and Thailand containing the toxic for consumers' health substances.

China-made antibiotic anrofloxacin and BKC are used to treat shrimp's diseases and clean the aquatic environment, but they are in the list of substances for limit use.

The VASEP is proposing the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to exclude BKC from list of substances using in aquaculture.