Fishing boats, docks cited by hygiene inspectors
HA NOI (VNS)— The regulatory scheme and performance of Vietnamese agencies in charge of ensuring the quality and safety of seafood at all administrative levels nationwide are in compliance with European Commission standards, according to the findings of a group of EU inspectors who visited the Vietnamese agencies last year.
The National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department (NAFIQAD) admitted, however, that the European inspectors found shortcomings related to hygienic conditions at pre-processing facilities, including fishing boats, ports and fisheries.
NAFIQAD has asked provincial departments of agriculture and rural development to continue working to boost awareness of food safety regulations among the owners of fishing fleets, the managers of fishing ports, the operators of fish-breeding facilties, and purchasing agents.
Agricultural quality assurance branches have also been ordered to intensify their inspections of hygienic conditions at these pre-processing facilities.
Businesses that process seafood for export have also been asked to use materials verified by municipal and provincial agricultral quality assurance branches. — VNS