Vietnam exporters decry new catfish preservation rule

Dec 31st at 14:00
31-12-2014 14:00:56+07:00

Vietnam exporters decry new catfish preservation rule

A new regulation on preserving frozen catfish set to take effect on New Year’s Day could force a number of seafood producers in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta to cease operations.

 

The catfish must have an ice glaze ratio of 10 percent and 83 percent humidity to be qualified for export, the government rules in Decree No. 36, effective on January 1.

Ice glaze is a thin layer of ice which embraces the catfish permanently and firmly, allowing it to maintain its freshness until its expiration date and be more affordable than fresh fish.

Seafood businesses say they acknowledge that the new rule is intended to increase the quality of Vietnamese catfish exports, but it should have been implemented in a pilot scheme to measure the market reaction before being officially put into effect.

Several catfish exporters in An Giang Province have filed a petition to the government asking to delay the effective date of the decree by a year.

If seafood producers apply the new standard, their export price will increase to US$3.4 a kg, $1 higher than the current rate.

“Foreign importers will not accept this new price,” the Vietnamese businesses complained.

Doan Toi, general director of Nam Viet JSC, said many import markets do not care about the ice glaze and humidity ratios.

“So the new rule does not help us to sell more products,” he said. “Then we would have no choice but to close our plants and lay off employees.”

Duong Viet Thang, deputy director of a seafood business in Can Tho City, said local exporters are already in harsh competition with Chinese rivals.

“We will fail to survive the competition with the higher export prices once the rule takes effect,” he lamented.

Seven seafood businesses in An Giang have reported to the provincial administration that their business will be killed off by the preservation regulation.

Likewise, up to five seafood firms in Can Tho said they will have no choice but shut down operations if the rule is not amended.

Decree No. 36 also stipulates many other factors, but only those regarding the ice glaze and humidity should be rectified, according to the Can Tho businesses.

In response to complaints from seafood producers, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh has said if a regulation is inappropriate, it must be corrected.

The deputy premier has assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to consider the petitions, and suggested that the government discuss the issue in its next session.

“Many other regulations have been appropriately and quickly rectified this way,” he said.

tuoitrenews



NEWS SAME CATEGORY

PetroVietnam upbeat despite falling oil price

Viet Nam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) said yesterday that it would continue monitoring global oil prices closely in order to adjust oil exploration and...

Ho Chi Minh City chairman urges gov’t to stockpile oil amid slumping prices

Vietnam’s government should consider stockpiling more crude oil in case the global oil situation worsens, Le Hoang Quan, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City proposed...

Fiercer competition looms in steel sector next year

Experts believe domestic steel firms will have to deal with an increasing competition triggered by cheap Chinese alloy steel imports, more steel imports from...

Coffee meets new standards

Around 19,000 coffee farmers in Viet Nam have adopted the international 4C (Common Code for Coffee Community) standards for sustainable production and trading with...

Vietnam launches first rice bran oil product

Cai Lan Oils & Fat Industries Co., Ltd (Calofic) introduced a new line of its Neptune oil brand on December 17 - a premium rice bran oil – marking Vietnam’s first...

Binh Son petitions MoF to increase import tax of E5

The Tax Policy Department under the Ministry of Finance is considering a plea submitted by Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited (BSR) to raise import...

Vinacomin set to produce 38 million tonnes of coal next year

The Viet Nam National Coal and Mineral Industries Holding Corporation (Vinacomin) aims to produce 38 million tonnes of coal in 2015, generating VND57 trillion ($2.7...

Rice exporters expect weaker sales to G2G markets in 2015

Vietnamese rice exporters say they are uncertain about export volume to the concentrated market (government-to-government, or G2G) in 2015 because of stiffer...

Petrol prices cut again, touch four-year low

The national retail petrol prices have been slashed by VND2,058 (US$0.09) per litre from 3pm on December 22, the Viet Nam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex) said.

VN cashew exports approach new high

Viet Nam expects to gain US$2 billion from cashew exports this year, according to the Viet Nam Cashew Association (Vinacas).

Commodity prices


MOST READ


Back To Top