Data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shows that there have been 165 shipments violating food safety regulations, and 78 shipments violating antibiotics and chemical use. Notably, many of these were meant for Vietnam’s top 3 export markets: The US, Japan, and the EU.
"European bloc countries are very strict about product quality. We checked carefully before exporting and found many products with antibiotic residue." - Vo Quoc Van, Vice director, Region 6 agro-forestry & fisheries products quality control center.
Trade representatives said this was a red alert for Vietnamese agricultural exports, especially in the context of integration.
"The US market is very clear about the level of antibiotics and chemicals allowed in each product. If we don’t follow the rules, we will hurt ourselves." - Nguyen Van Dzung, Association of Businesses in the U.S.
The export value of fishery products in 2015 is forecasted to reduce by more than 1 billion USD compared with last year. The figure will continue to fall if production management does not improve in the coming time.
"We must ensure quality from the farming to the processing to the exporting stage in order to improve the situation." - Nguyen Ngoc Hai, Tra fish farmer, O Mon Dist., Can Tho City.
"The rules are there, so why don’t we follow them? I think the situation will be better if authorities step in." - Vo Van Dung, Vice director, Region 6 agro-forestry & fisheries products quality control center.
Besides the risk of losing more shipments, the Vietnamese seafood industry will be heavily affected. Seafood businesses, farmers, and authorities must work closely together in order to ensure product quality.
