Vietnam assures Italy of safe catfish amid production qualms

The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) has assured about the quality of Vietnamese pangasius following allegations in the Italian media that the catfish is farmed in polluted waters.

The Vietnam Trade Office in Italy said that there have been several reports since late last year alleging imported Vietnamese pangasius being raised in polluted fields, which caused fear about the quality of Vietnamese seafood in Italian consumers.

The office said Slow Food, an Italian non-profit eco-gastronomic organization, would hold a seminar in Genova next week to discuss the import of Vietnamese pangasius.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development deputy minister Luong Le Phuong said the country's pangasius met the quality requirements of the European Commission, which has approved more than 300 Vietnamese exporters over the last few years.