Control of seafood exports to Japan must keep strict: experts
Though seafood exports to Japan grew in the first half of 2017, businesses must not neglect product quality control since this market has great influence on the prestige of Vietnam’s aquatic products
HCM City (VNA) – Though Vietnam’s seafoodexports to Japan grew strongly in the first half of 2017, businesses must notneglect product quality control since this market has great influence on theprestige of Vietnam’s aquatic products in the world.
The recommendation was made by many experts at aworkshop on food safety regulations on seafood exports to Japan held in Ho ChiMinh City on July 5.
Nguyen Hoai Nam, Vice Secretary General of theVietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), said Japan isone of the three biggest export markets of Vietnamese aquatic products,following the US and the EU. Aquatic shipments to this market were estimated at590 million USD in the first six months of 2017, up 31 percent year on year.
The appreciation of the Japanese Yen, strongerdemand for aquatic products in Japan and improved quality of Vietnameseproducts were the main reasons for the export growth.
Japan has replaced the US to become the leadingmarket of some aquatic products, especially shrimp, Nam said.
However, despite quality control efforts, somebatches of aquatic products were still warned about the excess of antibioticand chemical residues by Japan.
Le Anh Ngoc, an official of the NationalAgro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department (NAFIQAD), said Japan isexamining all batches of some aquatic products from Vietnam.
He said exporters should thoroughly learn aboutJapan’s regulations, especially those on antibiotics and examination at bordergates. They need to tighten the control of quality at material supplyfacilities while promptly conducting investigations and remedies if their goodsbatches are warned.
Prof. Fumio Sakamoto from Kagoshima University,a member of Japan’s committee for food quality inspection, said the managementof the aquaculture environment and the social responsibility of processingbusinesses need to be enhanced to improve material quality and product prices,thereby sustainably developing Vietnam’s fishery sector.-VNA
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Workers at Seavina Company (Source: VNA) 
