PANGASIUS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THE MARKET

The Department of Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance (NAFIQAD) said that this time, FSIS will evaluate the food safety and hygiene control system (ATTP) for Siluriformes (catfish) fish, of which mainly pangasius in the Mekong Delta.

Earlier, in May 2018, FSIS inspection team went to the pangasius farming area in the Mekong Delta to evaluate and record the implementation of the Food Safety Control System in the process of producing, processing and exporting Vietnamese pangasius completely comply with US regulations.

After FSIS published a draft system accreditation of Vietnam and asked for public comments, by the end of October 2019, USDA officially announced its decision to recognize equivalent to the Vietnamese catfish food safety control system exports to the US. According to NAFIQAD, this time the FSIS Inspection team continued to conduct the assessment to maintain the food safety control system of Vietnamese pangasius exported to the US.

In the past days, after the mission of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reviewed and field inspection from Pangasius farming area and system of seafood processing factories of 13 enterprises in Mekong Delta, Dr. Tran Dinh Luan, General Director Directorate of Fisheries, commented: Pangasius farming in Mekong Delta has made new progress.

Firstly in the stage of fingerling production, in 2019 the whole farming area has 200 pangasius hatcheries and 3,000 ha of nursery fish (equal to 100% compared to 2018), producing about 21 billion fry catfish, creating more 2.1 billion pangasius fingerlings, at the same time has replaced 45,000 broodstock breeders. The breed is quarantined a number of dangerous diseases, including a parent pedigree.

At present, 10/10 provinces and cities have pangasius farming areas with plans to prevent and fight diseases. On the other hand, carrying out the monitoring of water environment, the General Department of Fisheries and the Mekong River Commission carry out the monitoring at the headwaters of the Mekong River.

On the side of the localities monitoring the culture area, while pond facilities monitor at the ponds. Particularly for aquatic feeds for pangasius: 100% of industrial food production establishments will be inspected and certified to meet the business production conditions and 100% of the aquaculture feed establishments use industrial feeds.

While in order to control inputs, 100% of processing enterprises have their own commercial pangasius farming areas or buy raw materials from outsourced or chain-raising farms. 100% of farms are controlled on food safety according to Food Safety Law, in which 70% of the farming area is GAP certified (1,900 hectares are VietGAP certified, about 2,000 hectares are certified ASC, Naturland, GolbalGAP, BAP ...). Which satisfies the traceability conditions that 4,860 ponds were granted identification codes, software management on the website (http://dulieucatra.mard.gov.vn/General/login/default.aspx)

According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien: Firstly, it must be affirmed that the United States has recognized Vietnam pangasius products to be equivalent to the international level. The whole process of production, harvest, transportation, preliminary processing and processing we do very well at a high level.

When the United States proceeds to the second inspection, it is also an opportunity for us to examine the structure of manufacturing to a higher production step and this is the upcoming opportunity for more Pangasius exporting enterprises to the US to enjoy a tax rate of 0%, promote great potential advantages.

In 2019, the area of farming pangasius reached 6,600 hectares, up 22.2% compared to 2018. Production reached 1.42 million tons, equivalent to 2018. The export turnover reached US $ 2.01 billion, down 11.4%. compared to 2018.

Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien, this time, FSIS came to inspect the production and input materials: breeds, feeds, veterinary drugs, biological products ... we have to do very closely. Despite the standards of GlobalGAP, AseanGAP, VietGAP, the implementation process must closely and firmly review traceability, food safety...

In preparation for welcoming the American delegation, Mr. Ngo Hong Phong, NAFIQAD representative asked businesses to review and improve food safety assurance conditions, quality management programs and implementation documents in the entire manufacturing process, transporting, preliminarily processing, processing and exporting pangasius to America.

Enterprises proactively send officials to coordinate with local aquaculture management agencies to review the conditions to ensure food safety, records of pond management at facilities supplying raw materials for processing plants.

For enterprises whose shipments are warned by FSIS, full records should be kept, including warning documents, investigation reports of causes, results of remedial measures and specific evidence to certify.

(According to Vietnam Agriculture)

Source: http://vasep.com.vn/