Illustrative photo (Source: VNA)HCM City (VNA) – The Vietnam Association of SeafoodExporters and Producers (VASEP) has proposed urgent measures to avoid receivingthe European Commission (EC)’s “red card” warning after six months of a “yellowcard” it has applied on Vietnam’s seafood, towards re-winning the “green card”.
In a document recently sent to leaders of the National Assembly,Government and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), the VASEPasked for double examination of the draft revised Law on Fisheries before it isapproved to ensure that the EU and experts’ recommendations are considered.
The association held that the revision, along with a letter sent byMinister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong to the EU onOctober 20 asking for the clarification of the union’s recommendations, is themost important step and a chance for the bill to be completed, meeting the commontrend of the world and the EU.
VASEP also suggested the formation of a working team for unreported andunregulated (IUU) fishing to be headed by a MARD leader and involvedrepresentatives of some ministries and associations, including the VASEP,focusing on activities to avoid receiving a “red card”.
It also suggested Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong heading a delegation towork with EU representatives in Brussels, Belgium on IUU issues in Novemberthis year.
At the same time, the VASEP also proposed the organisation of aconference on IUU “yellow card” and the building of a six-month plan, gatheringrepresentatives of some ministries, sectors and businesses.
In a recent release, the European Commission gave the six-month “yellowcard” warning to Vietnam’s seafood as it found that Vietnam is not doing enoughto fight illegal fishing.
As scheduled, the EU will re-evaluate Vietnam’s efforts and improvementin IUU fishing. If the results are positive, Vietnam will receive anothersix-month “yellow card” after granting the country a “green card”. Otherwise, a“red card” may be applied, which means Vietnamese seafood is banned in the EUmarket.-VNA
VNA
