No notice has been received from China about temporarily suspending the import of lobster from Vietnam.

Vietnamese durian only accounts for about 5% of the market share in the Chinese market. Shrimp exports to China and Hong Kong (China) rebounded in the third quarter of 2023.

The Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) has just sent a document to the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development regarding the export of live lobsters to the Chinese market.

Chưa nhận được thông báo của phía Trung Quốc về nhập khẩu tôm hùm bông từ Việt Nam

No notification has been received from China about importing lobsters from Vietnam (Illustration photo)

The document stated that recently, immediately after receiving feedback from a number of facilities packaging and exporting live lobsters to China about the temporary suspension of import of live lobsters from Vietnam by customs at some Chinese border gates without stating the reason, the Department issued Document No. 773/CCPT-ATTP dated September 11, 2023 to the Embassy and Trade Office of Vietnam in China, requesting to arrange to work directly with the Department of Animal and Plant Quarantine Supervision, General Administration of Customs of China to verify the above feedback information of the enterprises.

At the same time, please provide specific information on new regulations (if any) for the import of live lobsters. Please notify customs at border gates to allow clearance of live lobster shipments from Vietnam until official announcement .

The Department also issued Document No. 873/CCPT-ATTP dated September 25, 2023 to notify relevant enterprises to update the situation and handling measures of the Department.

On September 28, 2023, the Department continued to issue Document No. 912/CCPT-ATTP to the Nanning Customs Department, General Administration of Customs of China, requesting to direct Dongxing Border Gate Customs to remove related obstacles, creating conditions for the export of live aquatic products from Vietnam to China (including lobsters) to be quick and convenient.

According to information from the Embassy, the Vietnam Trade Office in China, the Animal and Plant Quarantine Supervision Department, the General Administration of Customs of China has received the request from the Vietnamese side. However, because the Chinese side is busy at this time, they will try to arrange to work in the near future.

According to practice, if China issues new regulations on food safety control and disease safety of imported aquatic products, it will send notices to trade partners, including Vietnam.

However, up to now, the Department has not received any notice from the Chinese competent authority about these new regulations as well as the notice of temporary suspension of import of live lobsters from Vietnam.

In addition, according to information posted on some electronic newspapers, recently, China has diversified its lobster import sources from Canada, the US, New Zealand, Cuba, India, Brazil, Mexico... which could affect export supply and demand with Vietnam.

In order to promptly remove obstacles and difficulties for businesses, Mr. Le Ba Anh - Deputy Director of the Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) said that the Department continues to actively contact the Embassy and the Trade Office of Vietnam in China to request the Chinese side to promptly arrange a direct meeting to discuss the above issue, promptly removing obstacles for businesses.

In case you cannot arrange to work directly, please arrange to work online at the technical level with the Department or request to send a written notice and official response to the Vietnamese side. If necessary, the Department will advise the Ministry to send a document to the General Department of Customs of China to discuss specifically on this content.

The Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development also requested the Department of International Cooperation, through diplomatic channels or during the process of organizing the Ministry's working delegation to China, to request that the Chinese side promptly respond to the content of the Vietnamese side's request.

While waiting for the official response from the General Administration of Customs of China, in order to maintain development and minimize damage to lobster farmers, especially for spiny lobsters, in Official Dispatch No. 1253/TS-NTTS dated November 7, 2023 sent to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of coastal provinces and centrally run cities that raise lobsters; Fisheries Associations of provinces that raise lobsters, the Department of Fisheries requests the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of provinces/centrally run cities that raise lobsters to direct relevant functional units to closely monitor market information to advise people to choose the farming species (reduce spiny lobster farming, increase green lobster farming) and harvest at the appropriate time. Organize the construction of a chain linking quality, safe lobster products, ensuring traceability of origin.

Assign specialized staff to guide local farmers on technical measures to manage farming areas. Update complete information in the diary, keep relevant documents and records to serve traceability when requested. Manage well the quality of shrimp seeds and lobster disease prevention and control drugs. Organize inspections of the implementation of legal regulations in aquaculture, strictly handle violations (if any) and publicize the handling results according to regulations...

Previously, Linh Phat Seafood Trading and Service Company Limited (Cam Ranh City, Khanh Hoa Province) sent a document to the Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development, Center for Quality of Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Products Region 3 regarding the export of lobster to the Chinese market.

Accordingly, this enterprise said it had received information from a Chinese importer stating that Chinese authorities have strictly applied regulations on the export and import of lobsters from other countries, including the export of live lobsters from Vietnam to the Chinese market.

With activities related to the export of live lobsters to the Chinese market facing difficulties recently, it is very likely that the export of live lobsters will be affected, while the domestic commercial output of lobsters is still very large, of great value, and the quantity of goods is ready for export during the year-end holidays, so the issuance of the above strict regulations by the Chinese authorities has caused great damage to lobster farmers and businesses exporting lobsters to the Chinese market.

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