Russian inspectors from the Federal Service of Veterinary and Phytoveterinary Surveillance (VPSS) have arrived in Vietnam to inspect enforcement of food safety standards in fishing ports, fish markets, aquaculture and seafood processing establishments.
The Russian inspectors came to verify if Vietnamese aquaculture and seafood processing establishments follow food hygiene requirements, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).
In the morning of March 12, after meeting Vietnam Ministry of Fisheries leaders, the inspectors had a working session with the National Fisheries Quality Assurance and Veterinary Directorate (Nafiqaved).
As scheduled, the delegation of Russian inspectors will conduct inspection tours to fishing ports, fish markets, and aquaculture and seafood processing establishments from March 13-28. The team will examine the supervision of fishing, cultivating, processing at preliminary treatment workshops, cold storage, processing workshops and the establishments involved in the seafood supply system.
Previously the Russian side had asked Vietnamese authorities to arrange the inspection tour in February. However, the Ministry of Fisheries asked the Russian side to delay the tour until March, as February was a busy time when Vietnamese people welcomed the traditional Tet.
In mid January 2007, Deputy Minister of Fisheries Nguyen Thi Hong Minh signed a decision requesting Vietnamese seafood exporters to have the food hygiene certificate for products to be exported to Russia. The decision was made after Russian authorities raised requirements on seafood hygiene.
Under the decision, from January 15, in addition to the certificate under the form provided by VPSS, the exporters of seafood products to Russia must present documents showing their processing establishments can meet the strict requirements on food hygiene.
For exporters not having processing workshops, their products are allowed for export to Russia only when the products are processed in establishments with food hygiene certificates. Besides, all seafood exporters must follow Nafiqaved requirements on labeling and coding export consignments.
Last year, Vietnam exported 58,705 tons worth US$126.3 million to Russia, up 347 per cent in quantity and 175 per cent in value compared to the previous year. (Liberated Saigon, Labour)
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