Vietnam wants Egypt officials to see fish quality for themselves

The trade minister of Vietnam has called for inviting Egyptian officials to Vietnam to verify the quality of catfish processing after the country halted imports on safety grounds, online newspaper Vietnamnet reported.

The officials could take a look at the farming and processing of tra and basa, it quoted Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang as saying Tuesday.

Egypt banned Vietnamese seafood late last month following reports in the media that it is farmed in unhygienic conditions.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development told Egyptian authorities last Monday that the fish bred in the Mekong River meet quality standards.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has asked Egypt to resume import of Vietnamese aquatic produce.

The ministry also said it is working with the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers to check the status of Vietnamese seafood shipments that have been held up by Egyptian customs.

Egypt is a major market for Vietnam’s tra and basa. Last year, it imported 26,000 tons worth US$55 million.

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