Conference on quality and food safety of aquatic products
Ha Noi. Jan. 9 (VNA) -- The Fisheries Ministry held the third conference on quality and food safety of aquatic products in Ha Noi on Jan. 9.
Representatives from aquatic processing enterprises and relevant agencies nationwide reviewed their work between 1996 and 2000, and worked out a plan of action from now to 2005 to improve the competitiveness of Viet Nam's aquatic products in the world market.
During the past five years, the fisheries sector with technical and financial assistance of the Danish Government made considerable improvements in quality and food safety management and reform of legal documents on food safety, helping Viet Nam's seafood meet demand of foreign markets.
At present 60 enterprises are applying the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), and 40 are listed among those meeting the requirements of the European Union market.
Viet Nam's aquatic products are exported to 60 countries and territories with Japan being the biggest buyer.
By November 2000, Japanese companies had imported USD 388.5 million worth of aquatic products, or 33.6 percent of Viet Nam's total seafood export value.
Exports to the USA totalled USD 262,6 million last year, an increase of 250 percent against 1999. Other major importers were China and Hong Kong.
The sector earned more than USD 1.4 billion from aquatic products in 2000 and plans to obtain an export turnover of USD 2.5 billion in 2005 and USD 3.5 billion in 2010.--VNA
