A new regulation aimed at limiting ice glazing and humidity levels on Vietnam pangasius fillets was delayed on the last day of 2014, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).
Scheduled for implementation on 1 January 2015, some exporters in An Giang Province objected to the rules that would require no more than 10 percent ice glazing and 83 percent humidity, saying it would cost them business. The exporters filed a petition asking to delay the ruling, called Decree No. 36, by one year and it has been granted.
While seafood businesses acknowledge the regulation would help to increase the quality and image of Vietnam’s pangasius exports, they wanted more time to measure the impact on their customers, who they claim would not accept higher prices of USD 3.40 (EUR 2.85) per kilogram.
Doan Toi, general director of Nam Viet JSC, told Tuoitrenews.vn that many buyers do not care about the glazing or humidity ratios. “So the new rule does not help us to sell more products,” he said. “Then we would have no choice but to close our plants and lay off employees.”
Vietnam’s pangasius exports in 2015 are expected to total between USD 1.75 billion and USD 1.85 billion (EUR 1.47 billion to 1.55 billion), equivalent to 2014 levels.
