The Egypt embassy to Vietnam on March 31 decided to resume import of Vietnamese basa catfish after five days of halt, the Voice of Vietnam reported.
The decision is resulted from the fact that tested samples of Vietnamese catfish showed that they are completely safe.
Mr. Amin Abaza, the Egypt’s Minister of Agriculture and Land Reform said on the ministry website, the Al Ahram, that Vietnamese catfish are safe for consumers.
Mr. Hatim al Zabai, minister of Health said among 95 samples of basa catfish taken from 95 batches in March 2009, 87 samples meet technical requirements and 8 samples fail to meet because of catching bacterium.
Head of the Animal Health Department, Dr. Hamid Samaha, said almost all of imported frozen fish to Egypt, including Vietnamese basa catfish, are tested to ensure hygiene and safety for local consumers.
Chairman of the Animal Health and Quarantine Department, Dr. Youssef Mamhouh, confirmed that Egypt has so far this year imported 265 batches of basa catfish weighing 29,000 tons. Nine batches were returned because of under-quality. He said the return is very normal like other imports like beef and frozen chicken meat.
Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade (MOIT) Vu Huy Hoang on March 31 proposed to the prime minister that Egyptian delegations come to Vietnam to clarify information about tra and basa exported to the country.
Prior to that, the Egyptian Embassy in Vietnam announced it had halted certifying documents and vouchers related to seafood exported to Egypt. The move was made after several big Egyptian newspapers reported in mid March 2009 that Vietnam’s tra and basa fish contained substances dangerous to human health because Vietnam’s basa catfish lives in the contaminated water of the Mekong River.
Right after the announcement, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam gathered a meeting with relevant ministries to discuss solutions to the problem. In the immediate time, the ministry has suggested that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs send a diplomatic note to the Egyptian Embassy in Vietnam, asking it to continue granting certificates. (VOV Apr 2, Vietnamnet)
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