Italy has joined Egypt and Spain in reassuring foreign governments that Vietnam's food-safety standards are up to snuff, following news reports about the quality of pangasius raised in the Mekong Delta.
In a letter to Luong Le Phuong, deputy minister of Vietnam's Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Romano Marabelli, head of Italy's Veterinary Public Health, Nutrition and Food Safety, said Vietnamese pangasius meets Italian food-safety standards and poses no risk to public health.
"Neither Italy nor the European Union have ever adopted restrictive measures on pangasius from Vietnam," said Marabelli.
MARD is working with various countries to quash negative news reports about Vietnamese pangasius.
Phuong said demand for Vietnamese pangasius is strong, and exporters should ensure their products are labeled properly with information about production methods and nutritional benefits.
MARD is inviting a delegation of Italian buyers to participate in the seafood exhibition Vietfish, which will be held at the Saigon Exhibition Centre in Ho Chi Minh City from 9 to 14 June.
April 27, 2009
