Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) HCMCity (VNA) - The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters andProducers (VASEP) has announced that China continues to closely controlCOVID-19 in imported aquatic products, which is likely to slow Vietnam’sexports to the country in the months to come.
Chinese authorities have also warned that several batches of frozen Vietnameseshrimp were infected with white dot disease and failed to meet food safetycriteria.
Since mid-November, competent agencies at China’s border gates have sprayed disinfectantand traced the origin of all frozen aquatic products at most major ports inShanghai, Wuhan, Tianjin, Qiangdao, and elsewhere.
All products must be tested for COVID-19 soon after berth.
VASEP General Secretary Truong Dinh Hoe said that despite the growing demand inChina, many batches of seafood remain stuck at ports due to the rigorousinspections and prolonged customs clearance.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has asked seafood exporters toseriously follow the Government and Health Ministry’s COVID-19 prevention andcontrol measures and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and WorldHealth Organisation (WHO)’s guidelines, as well as provide the necessarypaperwork to Chinese authorities when requested.
Deputy head of the National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality AssuranceDepartment (Nafiquad) Ngo Hong Phong said his department is actively workingwith Chinese import control agencies on certifications related to COVID-19prevention and control.
According to VASEP, China imported aquatic products from Vietnam worth 1.3billion USD in the first 11 months of this year, up 3.4 percent year-on-year.The annual figure is estimated at 1.48 billion USD, up nearly 5 percent.Following a steep decline due to the pandemic, exports to China reboundedstrongly in September, posting a 27 percent growth, followed by 16 percent inOctober and 19 percent in November.
Many exporters are concerned, however, about maintaining export growth to Chinagiven the close import controls./.
