June 27, 2006

Vietnamese catfish processors working towards international standards

Vietnam's fisheries industry is working with international aquaculture organisations to standardise the raising of tra and basa catfish for exports.

The programme involves EUREGAP - a Swiss office that grants Good Aquaculture Practice (GAP), and the Aquaculture Certification Council (ACC), a US non-governmental body to certify international food safety standards at aquaculture facilities.

The new standards from the programme would be implemented next year, said the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP).

Vietnam's aquaculture producers and processors would have to adopt the GAP to qualify for ACC certificates.

VASEP said such certification was beneficial for the Vietnamese seafood industry as many retailers require ACC documentation when Vietnamese companies export to them.

Vietnamese companies, big and small, would be eligible to apply for international  certification on tra and basa catfish if they can collectively meet processing protocols.

Vietnamese tra and basa catfish have been shipped to over 40 markets internationally.