According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, the Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service (VPSS) announced the removal of suspension on importing seafood into Russia and Eurasian Customs Union from seven Vietnam companies, including five frozen pangasius producers and two frozen shrimp processors.
However, Vietnam’s National Agro-Forestry Fisheries Quality Assurance Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, NAFIQAD), requested the companies actively communicate importers to avoid problems during importing process into Russia and Eurasian Customs Union (including Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan) especially on export items allowed, export contracts, importers recognized by VPSS.
Russia suspended imports of Vietnamese pangasius fillets on 31 January and local exporters attributed the suspension to high food hygiene requirements.
According to NAFIQAD, 602 Vietnamese enterprises have been recognized as meeting food hygiene criteria for export to Europe but Russia accepts only 34 firms.
