Illustrative photo (Source: VNA)HCM City (VNA) – Vietnam’s tra fish processors and exporters should take prompt action now as they have just 18 months as from March 2016 to meet the new rules issued by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) requiring domestic and foreign suppliers to meet the same standards.
According to general secretary of Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) Truong Dinh Hoe, Vietnam will have to submit lists of establishments that currently export and will continue to export tra fish products to the US as well as documents proving that their products follow regulations set by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
He added that the new rules also affect US importers as during the transitional period, the USDA will conduct inspection and exercise broad enforcement discretion in domestic establishments that process and distribute catfish products, making them hesitate to buy tra fish from Vietnam.
However, industry insiders said that once meeting the US standards, Vietnam’s fish products will gain prestige on the international market, creating favourable conditions for the producers to enlarge their markets.
Nguyen Phuoc Buu Huy, Deputy General Director of Cadovimex II Export Processing And Fisheries JSC said that the company is optimistic that it will meet the new rules, as Vietnamese enterprises are growing and processing tra fish in line with sustainable international standards such as ASC, Global GAP and MSC.-VNA
