Exported Seafood Unaffected by Mass Fish Death: VASEP
The quality of Vietnamese seafood exports is not affected by the mass fish deaths in several central provinces, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) has said in a statement.
According to VASEP, seafood for export is caught mainly in the offshore waters from Da Nang to south central and southern provinces by large fishing vessels, not in areas where dead fish were found.
The association added that the supply of raw seafood processed by Vietnamese companies comes from other countries.
Samples taken by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in offshore waters about 20-30 nautical miles from the provinces affected by the mass fish deaths also indicate that they are safe.
In addition, local food safety agencies have strengthened their inspection to ensure that fish catches arriving in the harbours meet standards for domestic consumption and export.
Meanwhile, NAFIQAD, the agency responsible for the quality of agricultural and seafood products, requested seafood processors not buy dead fish to process and export as well as examine seafood materials to make sure they are not contaminated.
Vietnam’s seafood exports in 2016 are expected to exceed the previous year’s figures thanks to a stable supply and recovery in main export markets.
NDO
Vietnamese
