Phu Quoc island district in the southern province of Kien Giang hosted a ceremony on August 19 to receive the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) certificate that the European Union granted to the local fish sauce specialty.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Ho Thi Kim Thoa said Phu Quoc fish sauce is the first product of Vietnam to get the status, which means the trademark will be protected at markets of 28 EU’s member countries.

She added that the recognition not only helps raise the brand’s prestige and create a strong base for the product in the EU market , but also contributes to promoting the product to international markets.

Phu Quoc, the biggest island of Kien Giang province, has been well known for long for its fish sauce. Fish sauce manufacturing in Phu Quoc has a history of more than 200 years.

The island currently has 80 fish sauce processing businesses which provide about 20 million litres per year.
In order to maintain its foothold in EU and other markets, fish sauce producers in the locality are recommended to further ensure their products’ quality, while renovating design and preventing trade fraud.

Phu Quoc fish sauce is the eleventh non-EU product name to receive the protected status, following Colombian coffee, Indian Darjeeling tea and eight Chinese products.-VNA