September 29, 2011

Japanese experts applaud Vietnam's seafood standards

Japanese experts commended Vietnam's seafood hygiene and safety after inspecting its local processing factories and aquaculture establishments from September 12-15.

According to the Vietnam Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Japanese inspectors said that hygiene and safety conditions at Vietnamese seafood aquaculture establishments and processing factories are as good as those in Japan.

The Japanese inspectors also spoke highly of the management and control of food hygiene and safety at these facilities and their well-trained management staff.

They said that aquatic farms are wide and clean, and farmers do not use chemicals during the raising process.

The Japanese delegation worked with relevant Vietnamese agencies, including the National Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Quality Administrative Directorate of Vietnam (NAFIQAD), the Veterinary Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Fisheries General Department and VASEP after their inspection trip.

The two sides discussed the establishment of an information coordination agency between Japan's Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau and NAFIQUAD, which aims to provide updated information on regulations and batches of goods and inspection.