November 7, 2011

Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued a decision to tighten quality control on its seafood exports, after they were detected by authorities of Canada and Japan to contain harmful substances for human health.

The decision demands the ministry's National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department (NAFIQAD) to take samples from all exporting batches of shrimp, pangasius and other seafood products for detection of Enrofloxacin, Ciprofloxacin and other toxic substances.

Only tested seafood batches will be allowed for export to Japan and Canada, the ministry said.

Earlier, authorities from Canada found Flouroquiolones in 11 Vietnam-sourced seafood batches while Japanese detected Enrofloxacin in 16 batches of Vietnam-produced shrimp.

Both substances are antibiotic but harmful for human health. They are not allowed to use in aquatic industry.

Japan is the second largest market for Vietnam-sourced shrimp while Canada is also among top importers of Vietnam's seafood.