Seafood sector urges gov’t help

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The Việt Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) has proposed solutions to the Government to resolve current difficulties and promote seafood exports. — Photo cafef.vn.

VASEP General-Secretary Trương Đình Hòe said the industry achieved 4.4 per cent growth in total seafood export value in the first half of this year, compared to the same period last year, to US$3.1 billion. But, he added, seafood exporters and producers still have many difficulties that need to be solved by the Government.

The association suggested the Government continue reforming regulations and administrative procedures for seafood processing and export activities. These include some provisions on inspection and certificates of food safety for export, and regulations on labeling.

The association has proposed that the State give quarantine exemptions to enterprises that regularly import material for processing seafood for exports from the same origin and the same suppliers, based on inspection results of previous lots.

The state should also formulate specific strategies on producing aquatic varieties, which would be a key factor affecting output, use of antibiotics and price, it said.

VASEP suggested the Government and the ministry review the use of antibiotics in aquaticulture activities and to promote knowledge about shrimp farming without antibiotics.

Given that trade barriers in the US market, such as anti-dumping taxes, will have significant impact on other key export markets of Vietnamese seafood, including Europe, the Government should support the fisheries industry to help it overcome those barriers.

The association asked the State for investment in offshore fishing technology, post-harvest storage and trade promotion activities. The State should also invest in building a modern seaport in the Mekong Delta region and a bio-technological centre in Cần Thơ to promote production and export of seafood in the region.

The State should also assess the impact of saline intrusion on fishery production and output to avoid increase of production cost and negative impact on output and quality of seafood.

According to the MARD, the US, Japan, China and South Korea were the largest export markets for local seafood products in the first five months of 2016.

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The association expects Việt Nam to achieve its target of $7 billion in exports for this year due to the recovery of the world economy and demand for seafood.