Vietnam has requested World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) members in a number of European countries remove its tra (Pangasius) fish from the red list of the guidance manual for seafood consumers in 2010-2011, said a spokesperson for Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry.
Spokeswoman Nguyen Phuong Nga made the request at a press briefing in Hanoi on Dec. 9while answering reporters’ question on WWF members in a number of European countries putting Vietnam’s tra fish products in the red list of the consumer guidance manual in 2010-2011.
“It is a regret that members of WWF in several European countries have made assessments that are inaccurate, lack scientific foundations and are at odds with the realities of Vietnam’s tra fish,” said the Vietnamese spokeswoman.
This activity will cause great losses to Vietnamese fish farmers and seafood processors as well as European consumers and not benefit the ongoing fine development of the economics and trade relationship between Vietnam and European nations, she said.
She went on to say that Vietnam has over the past years strictly controlled seafood processing industry from planning and breeding to processing and widely applied the highest international standards for aquaculture, ensured food hygienic safety and protected ecological environment on par with international standards.
“We demand that WWF members in these countries remove Vietnam’s tra fish from the red list of the guidance manual for seafood consumers in 2010-2011 and make public criteria and unbiased recommendations on Vietnam’s tra fish production and export situation. Vietnam is willing to welcome and create every condition for WWF experts to make a fact-finding tour of Vietnam’s fish farms and seafood processing establishments so as to make correct assessments of Vietnam’s seafood processing industry,” the spokeswoman concluded./.
Spokeswoman Nguyen Phuong Nga made the request at a press briefing in Hanoi on Dec. 9while answering reporters’ question on WWF members in a number of European countries putting Vietnam’s tra fish products in the red list of the consumer guidance manual in 2010-2011.
“It is a regret that members of WWF in several European countries have made assessments that are inaccurate, lack scientific foundations and are at odds with the realities of Vietnam’s tra fish,” said the Vietnamese spokeswoman.
This activity will cause great losses to Vietnamese fish farmers and seafood processors as well as European consumers and not benefit the ongoing fine development of the economics and trade relationship between Vietnam and European nations, she said.
She went on to say that Vietnam has over the past years strictly controlled seafood processing industry from planning and breeding to processing and widely applied the highest international standards for aquaculture, ensured food hygienic safety and protected ecological environment on par with international standards.
“We demand that WWF members in these countries remove Vietnam’s tra fish from the red list of the guidance manual for seafood consumers in 2010-2011 and make public criteria and unbiased recommendations on Vietnam’s tra fish production and export situation. Vietnam is willing to welcome and create every condition for WWF experts to make a fact-finding tour of Vietnam’s fish farms and seafood processing establishments so as to make correct assessments of Vietnam’s seafood processing industry,” the spokeswoman concluded./.
