The EC has not announced the specific date and time it will visit Vietnam to inspect and consider removing the IUU "yellow card".

The fifth inspection by the European Commission (EC) is considered an important moment for Vietnam to remove the IUU "yellow card" warning (illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing). According to the Department of Fisheries (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), this inspection is not only a quality test but also an opportunity for Vietnam to strengthen its position in the international market.

Strengthening propaganda to comply with legal regulations to prevent and end the situation of Quang Ngai fishing boats illegally exploiting seafood in foreign waters.

This inspection trip by the EC delegation is an important event for the Vietnamese seafood industry. This is not only a challenge but also an opportunity for Vietnam to demonstrate product quality and affirm its position in the international market.

"Vietnam's fisheries industry needs close coordination between businesses and management agencies to ensure that EC requirements are met comprehensively and effectively," said the Department of Fisheries.

Mr. Tran Dinh Luan - Director of the Department of Fisheries - said that Vietnam has sent a report to the European Commission (EC) on the results of Vietnam's implementation of the EC's requests and recommendations. However, the EC has not yet announced the specific date and time of its visit to Vietnam to inspect and consider removing the yellow card for seafood.

In recent years, members of the European Union (EU) have become one of the main export markets for Vietnamese seafood, accounting for about 20% of the total annual seafood export value. However, along with the increase in export volume, food safety issues have also become more serious.

The visit will be a “hybrid” inspection, combining remote assessments and on-site inspections. Experts from the EU’s Directorate for Health and Food Safety (DG-SANTE) will focus on examining Vietnam’s residue control system for exported seafood products, including honey products. This is not only to ensure food safety for European consumers, but also to assess whether Vietnam maintains and improves the necessary standards.

The inspection programme is part of the EU’s food safety inspection and analysis plan for 2021 to 2025. DG-SANTE has committed to focusing its resources on monitoring the implementation of EU regulations, particularly in areas related to food safety, animal and plant health. This inspection in Vietnam is an important part of that strategy, aiming to ensure that products imported from non-EU countries, such as Vietnam, comply with strict European standards.

Vietnam’s seafood industry is facing many major challenges in maintaining product quality to meet EU requirements. According to the Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), if the inspection results are negative, not only businesses but the entire Vietnamese seafood industry will be affected. This could undermine Vietnam’s reputation in the international market, not only in the EU but also in other markets.

Despite facing many challenges, this is also an opportunity for the Vietnamese seafood industry to reaffirm its position in the international market. If it passes this inspection with positive results, Vietnam will not only protect the EU market but also have enough credibility to expand exports to other demanding markets with similar requirements.

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), seafood exports in the first 9 months of the year reached 7.16 billion USD, up 8.5% over the same period last year. In September alone, exports reached 866 million USD, up 6.4% over September 2023. After 4 years of disruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic, war, inflation, and market developments gradually stabilizing, Vietnam's seafood exports in 2024 have returned to their usual trajectory of accelerating in the second half of the year, peaking in the third quarter of 2024.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/ec-chua-thong-bao-ngay-gio-cu-the-se-sang-viet-nam-thanh-tra-xem-xet-go-the-vang-iuu-349842.html