This has raised huge concerns for the catfish industry, as there has been almost no time for local farmers to meet these new stringent standards.
According to the new requirements, the quality, environment and safety of catfish will be monitored. The most significant challenge is that Vietnamese fish farm regulations must meet the same standards as those applied on US farms. This is challenging because most farms are small in size.
As time is pressing, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has instructed related agencies to examine the new requirements and resolve the issue for farmers and enterprises.
Exported catfish turnover recently reached 260 million USD, marking a 5% fall compared to the same period last year. The industry will now face strict supervision and the new regulation will pose a significant challenge for catfish industry. Some however have argued it opens up an opportunity for Vietnam to achieve high-quality agriculture production in accordance with international standards.
