Japan Praises Seafood Safety & Hygiene Conditions

Representatives from the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Department of Animal Health under Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Directorate of Fisheries (D-Fish) took part in the meeting.

The Japanese mission highly appreciated the management and control of food safety and hygiene in processing and aquaculture facilities.

Staff and workers in the processing facilities were found to be well-educated and experienced in food safety and hygiene as they could answer fast and accurately when asked questions about the field. Fish farms were seen to be clean and farmers did not use chemicals in aquaculture.

However, the Japanese inspectors did offer some advice for a farm they visited. The inspectors advised that the temperature between the frozen area and the cooked area must be suitable to avoid humidity and mould, gloves must be sterilised after using and equipment in the lab must be maintained.

Mr Nguyen Nhu Tiep, Head of NAFIQAD, admitted and acquired the Japanese missions comments. NAFIQAD will send documents soon to enterprises and request them to improve manufacturing equipments in accordance with Japanese missions advices. NAFIQAD will check their implementation and report Japanese mission. In terms of maximum level of Trifluralin and Enrofloxacin residue on seafood products, Japanese regulations is stricter than EU regulations. NAFIQAD proposed the Japanese Food Safety Department to provide reports on risk assessment enclosing scientific proof. If possible, in the current situation, NAFIQAD requested Japan to apply the equal level of EU regulations.

Viet Nam enterprises always make effort to control food safety and hygiene. VASEP held many meetings with the representatives from Japanese importers to co-ordinate the control of safety and hygiene of seafood exported to Japan and other countries, Mr Nguyen Hoai Nam, Deputy Secretary of VASEP said.

NAFIQAD and the Japanese Food Safety Department will combine to push up information exchange and update and amended supplementary regulations between two sides. With close cooperation between the two sides, the quality of Vietnamese seafood exported to Japan will be improved.