Inspectors are examining all facilities processing bivalve molluscproducts for export to European Union (EU) countries from November 24 toearly December, the National Agriculture-Forestry-Fisheries QualityAssurance Department (NAFIQAD) announced on November 20.
The move is prompted by the EU’s detection of violations of foodsafety regulations for the products during the September 9-18fact-finding tour by a delegation of the Food and Veterinary Officeunder the EU Commission’s Directorate General for Health and Consumers.
The mission found that Vietnamese blanched noblescallop (Mimachlamys Nobilis) flesh had not been heat-treated inaccordance with EU standards before being exported to EU markets.
Meanwhile, processed noble scallops and arkclams (Anadara Subcrenata) shipped to the EU were found to originatefrom areas contaminated with lipophilic toxins.
Following the finding, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Developmenton November 17 requested the NAFIQAD and processors tightly monitor theprocessing process and re-train workers and quality managers in orderto promptly fix violations found by EU inspectors.
The NAFIQAD was also asked to increase supervision over processingfacilities and decline to award export certificates to those that failto meet EU requirements, NAFIQAD Director Nguyen Nhu Tiep said.
According to Jean-Jacques Bouflet, Minister Counsellor and head of theTrade and Economic Section of the EU Delegation to Vietnam, the EU hasyet to take any sanction measures against Vietnamese bivalve molluscproducts in response to Vietnamese relevant agencies’ endeavours toaddress the problem.
He stressed that exporting companiesmust still stringently obey the EU’s current requirements though somemay no longer be suitable for the reality.
After NAFIQAD completes their examinations, local bivalve mollusc processors will be re-checked by EU officials.
The processors are given six months to remedy their shortcomings and prove operations in line with EU standards.
In September, 2014, the NAFIQAD ordered a temporary suspension of the export of the offending products.
There are 47 Vietnamese businesses exporting bivalve mollusc to the EU at present, it said.-VNA
The move is prompted by the EU’s detection of violations of foodsafety regulations for the products during the September 9-18fact-finding tour by a delegation of the Food and Veterinary Officeunder the EU Commission’s Directorate General for Health and Consumers.
The mission found that Vietnamese blanched noblescallop (Mimachlamys Nobilis) flesh had not been heat-treated inaccordance with EU standards before being exported to EU markets.
Meanwhile, processed noble scallops and arkclams (Anadara Subcrenata) shipped to the EU were found to originatefrom areas contaminated with lipophilic toxins.
Following the finding, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Developmenton November 17 requested the NAFIQAD and processors tightly monitor theprocessing process and re-train workers and quality managers in orderto promptly fix violations found by EU inspectors.
The NAFIQAD was also asked to increase supervision over processingfacilities and decline to award export certificates to those that failto meet EU requirements, NAFIQAD Director Nguyen Nhu Tiep said.
According to Jean-Jacques Bouflet, Minister Counsellor and head of theTrade and Economic Section of the EU Delegation to Vietnam, the EU hasyet to take any sanction measures against Vietnamese bivalve molluscproducts in response to Vietnamese relevant agencies’ endeavours toaddress the problem.
He stressed that exporting companiesmust still stringently obey the EU’s current requirements though somemay no longer be suitable for the reality.
After NAFIQAD completes their examinations, local bivalve mollusc processors will be re-checked by EU officials.
The processors are given six months to remedy their shortcomings and prove operations in line with EU standards.
In September, 2014, the NAFIQAD ordered a temporary suspension of the export of the offending products.
There are 47 Vietnamese businesses exporting bivalve mollusc to the EU at present, it said.-VNA
