October 29, 2010

Vietnam to mark tra fish exports

Vietnam's seafood processing and exporting companies will have to label "basa" on their exported tra and basa fish products from December 31, as mandated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The mandate also requested domestic agro-forestry and seafood quality centres to check the exported tra fish quality in line with requirements from importing countries.

Domestic firms should work with importers to name their products for each country if they want to receive licenses to export their products to these markets, Nguyen Nhu Tiep, head of the ministry's Department of Animal Husbandry Management was cited as saying.

Specific label for tra and basa fish is the first step for Vietnamese exporters to promote Vietnamese basa fish brand in the world market, said the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers.

The association added that the move is essential to avoid the subject of 2008 Farm Bill following which the US Association of Catfish Breeders has lobbied the Department of Agriculture to define Vietnamese tra and basa fish as catfish.

Vietnam has exported its tra fish products to 150 countries and territories worldwide, with the US being the leading importer.

Vietnamese firms exported 472,586 tonnes of tra fish products for US$1.014 billion between January and September, up 7.5% on-year in volume.

The export revenue is expected to increase to US$1.5 billion by the end-2010, rising from US$1.34 billion a year earlier.