Spain Recognizes Vietnam's Catfish Safety
The Spanish government has confirmed that Vietnamese tra’ and basa catfish are not a threat to health as it meets all hygiene and health safety requirements.
According to the Spanish news agency, Servimedia, in reply to a query by MP Joaquin Garcia Diez of the Spanish People’s Party on March 19, the Spanish Government said that Vietnamese catfish products do not violate any food safety standards, therefore, the country will not ban the import of these products.
MP Diez had previously expressed his concern that seafood imports from Vietnam might affect his country’s own domestic market.
The Spanish government elaborated that no health violations relating to the Vietnamese products have been reported in Europe. And imports of tra and basa catfish have risen by 60 per cent annually since 2004.
In January, the Spanish Ministry of Health and Consumption announced that Vietnamese tra and basa catfish meets all the EU food safety regulations, and affirmed that consignments coming should not be prohibited.
Spain is the leading European buyer of Vietnamese tra and basa catfish. Imports have increased from 5,785 tons in 2004 to 27,469 tons in the first seven months of 2008, according to statistics released by the Spanish government. (Saigon Liberation, VNA)
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