April 24, 2008

Vietnam tightens seafood quality control

Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development announced that it would revoke export certificates of seafood traders that use additives into fish.

The regulation was signed by minister Cao Duc Phat on Monday. It specifically forbids the use of water and additives like phosphate for fish in order to make them heavier.

Phat also asked the National Fisheries Quality Assurance and Veterinary Directorate (Nafiqaved) to conduct inspection on content of additives in frozen fish, especially tra and basa catfish, which fetch the second biggest seafood earnings.

Vietnamese officials noted that seafood exporters tend to use excessive additives in catfish just to reap bigger profits, without much consideration to the damage it may cause to Vietnam's reputation as a top seafood exporter.

The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (Vasep) said catfish export is rebounding due to high demand from EU and central America.

Catfish prices in the local markets are now VND15,000 or VND15,500 per kilogramme after falling to VND13,000 per kilogramme in March.

US$1 = VND16,115 as of April 24, 2008