The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers has sent a petition to the country’s central government asking for changes in national seafood import quarantine regulations.
The letter, sent on 21 December, said the current regulatory regime is hurting the country’s seafood industry, and in particular, processors bringing in seafood for reexport. This is the third time VASEP has petitioned the government to address the issue, with similar lettes sent in March and May 2021.
Vietnam’s enhanced safety protocol to protect the country from COVID-19 requires imported products processed from animals, animal products, or products containing aquatic animals – either frozen, dried, cooked, or for instant-use – to be subject to quarantine. Almost 100 percent of imported cargoes are required to be quarantined before customs clearance, which VASEP said is unnecessary. The trade group called on the government to remove strict inspection regimes for frozen processed seafood products, which are imported for processing and reexport.
It also urged a loosening of rules on processed seafood products imported for domestic consumption, which VASEP believes are unlikely to spread aquatic diseases into Vietnam.
Vietnam imported seafood worth USD 170.7 million (EUR 151.2 million) in November, up 17.8 percent year-over-year. The value of the country’s seafood imports in the first 11 months of 2021 rose 12.6 percent year-on-year to USD 1.79 billion (EUR 1.58 billion), with much of that total then processed by local companies and exported to other countries.
Photo courtesy of VASEP
