August 21, 2007

Russia gives nod to Vietnamese seafood exporters
 

Russia's government has given its nod to seafood imports from 10 Vietnamese seafood exporters, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors.

The Russian Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service (VPSS) recently inspected 20 aquaculture breeding and processing facilities in the Mekong Delta region to ensure safety standards were met, and 10 of those passed the checks.

Russia issued directives in April stating that only enterprises awarded food safety and hygiene certificates would be allowed to ship seafood and other aquatic products to the country.

The approved companies include Southern Seafood Industrial Limited Co., Changhua Vietnam, Dong Bang Xanh (Green Delta) Limited Co., Basa Joint Stock Company, Cafatex, Asia-Pacific Frozen Seafood Factory, Cho Lon Factory, the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Seafood Import-Export Processing Company and NTCO.

VPSS is expected to sign an agreement this month with Vietnam's National Fisheries Quality Assurance and Veterinary Directorate to facilitate bilateral seafood trade. The Russian veterinary watchdog also plans to continue with future inspections.

During the first half, the Russian market accounted for 5.2 percent of Vietnam's total seafood export earnings, behind only the EU, US, Japan and South Korea.

Vietnam's seafood industry seeks to generate export revenues of US$3.6 billion this year and US$4-4.5 billion by 2010.