November 8, 2007

Vietnam to head ASEAN's seafood assessing laboratory system

Representatives from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are discussing the construction of a common system of independent laboratories to assess and certify seafood in the region.

Seven countries in ASEAN have already registered for setting up 15 seafood assessing laboratories. Vietnam alone has registered for six laboratories.

Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Luong Le Phuong, said the laboratories will increase ASEAN's seafood exports' quality and help seafood companies reduce assessment costs.

The programme has received technical support from the EU through the ASEAN Program for Regional Integration Support (APRIS). The assistance will be through human training and supply of facilities for the laboratories.

Phuong said the laboratories will also facilitate Vietnam to reach bilateral agreement with seafood importers in general. Vietnam, to date, has reached trade agreements with seven countries including Italy, South Korea, France, Thailand, China, Canada and Cambodia.

The Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has already agreed to allocate VND30 billion (US$1.86 million) to upgrade infrastructure in order to meet increasing demand for seafood assessment from import countries.

US$1 = 16,070 Vietnam Dong (as of November 7, 2007)