July 12, 2012
Japan to toughen inspection on Vietnam shrimp imports
Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has decided to conduct laboratory testing on 30% of shrimp imports from Vietnam instead of the usual 5%.
The increase came after one batch of Vietnamese shrimp contained harmful substances/drugs (etoksihina).
A ban on shrimp exports from Vietnam may be decided if other prohibited substances are identified.
In the past, the same approach was applied after the detection of the harmful substance triftoralina was found in Vietnamese shrimp. In that case, Japan increased the frequency of its inspections to 100%.