WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/931 
15 June 2009 
 (09-2886) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
REPORT ON FOOD HYGIENE AND SAFETY CONTROL IN  
BASA CATFISH INDUSTRY IN VIET NAM 
 
Communication by Viet Nam  
   The following communication, received on 28 May 2009, is being circulated at the request of 
the Delegation of Viet Nam
. 
 
_______________ 
 
 I. SUMMARY ON TRA AND BASA CATFISH FARMING IN VIET NAM 
1. The Mekong River has its source in China, flowing across Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and 
Viet Nam and empties into the sea.  Four sub-Mekong countries having traditional basa catfish farming are Thailand, Cambodi a, Laos and Viet Nam. 
2. Vietnamese basa catfish are produced mainly in  the provinces of An Giang, Can Tho, Dong 
Thap, Vinh Long and Tien Giang by industrial me thod with cages (major type of Basa farming before 
2000).  Recently, farming in ponds is more popular to  assure natural flow of the river and constant 
circulation of in and out waters as well as to control more effectively the culturing. 
3. Breeding sources:  natural or artificial.  Feeding method:  mainly industrial feeds and 
combined with in-place formula of cooked ground fish and cereal flour.  Raising period:  six-eight 
months. 
4. Basa farming establishments must be in compliance with Vietnamese requirements related to 
food hygiene and safety and veterinary hygiene cond itions as well as undergo regular inspections and 
surveillance (Sector Standards 28 TCN 176:2002 Ca ge culture of basa bocourti, basa catfish – 
conditions for food safety; 28 TC N 192: 2004 Cage culture area - conditions for food safety; 
provisions on veterinary hygiene conditions in Ve terinary Ordinance 2004 and Decree No. 33/2005 of 
15 March 2005 of the Government). 
5. Some householders in An Giang province ha ve applied farm management systems in 
compliance with SQF 2000.  Tra and basa farming establishments are applying sustainable aquaculture (GAP and CoC) which have been in spected and certified according to the Decision 
No. 56/2008/QD-BNN of 29 April 2008 of the Minist ry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 
focusing on input factors (quality of supply waters and breeds), control during feeding (use of feed, 
veterinary drugs, chemicals, water changing, etc.),  and output factors (treatment of waste water and 
mud before discharge) for purpose of food safety, disease-freedom and environment protection. 
6. Veterinary drugs, chemicals and antibiotics used  in aquaculture: the Ministry of Fisheries 
which had been merged into the Ministry of Ag riculture and Rural Development had issued the 
Decision No.07/2005/QD-BTS of 22 February 2005, which was replaced by the Circular G/SPS/GEN/931 
Page 2  
 
  No. 15/2009/TT-BNN of 17 March 2009 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.  The 
Circular No. 15/2009/TT-BNN promulgated the lists of veterinary drugs, chemicals and antibiotics 
prohibited and restricted from use in fishery pro duction and trading (see Appendices 1-4).  These lists 
fully conform to requirements of Canada, the Eur opean Communities and the United States.  Farmers 
are responsible for not using the banned drugs, ch emicals and antibiotics and stop using drugs before 
harvesting in conformity with regulations. 
7. Veterinary drugs, chemicals and feeds used  in aquaculture must be examined for 
manufacturing/trade license and requested for testing/ field trials before circulation in Viet Nam. 
8. The number of tra and basa catfish processing establishments is about 120 (updated at the 
beginning of 2009); all of them meet food hygien e and safety conditions according to Vietnamese 
requirements; many of them meet strict require ments of importing countries such as the European 
Communities and the United States. 
9. All fishery processing establishments have b een trained on and apply quality and safety 
management programmes based on HACCP.  The resu lts of annual inspections (by the European 
Communities and the United States) showed that  HACCP plans of the establishments were 
appropriate and effective. 
10. The consignments intended for export to Cana da, the European Communities and the United 
States and must be tested at the laboratories of  international standard (ISO 17025) before being 
dispatched. 
11. Vietnamese tra and basa catfish have b een exported to over 128 countries/territories, 
including difficult markets such as Australia, Ca nada, the European Communities, Russia and the 
United States, which are also the major consumers of Vietnamese tra and basa fish. 
II. FOOD HYGIENE AND SAFETY CONTROL IN TRA AND BASA CATFISH 
PRODUCTION IN VIET NAM 
A. O
RGANIZATIONAL SYSTEM  
1. Central competent authority 
12. Vietnamese Competent Authority in charge of food hygiene and safety of fishery products is 
the National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assu rance Department (NAFIQAD) under the Ministry 
of Agriculture and Rural Development, including: 
- NAFIQAD Headquarters in Hanoi; 
- 02 Regional Agencies in Nha Trang and Hochiminh City; 
- 06 NAFIQAD Branches having 06 laboratories which are sufficiently equipped to test 
for food criteria including micro-biological, chemical and antibiotic residues, and 
contaminants). 
Total staff:  384 (as of 31 January 2009).  Prof essional officials have been trained on food safety 
control in Viet Nam and foreign countries such as Canada, France, Korea, the Netherlands and the 
United States. 
 G/SPS/GEN/931 
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  2. Provincial competent authorities 
13. Provincial competent authorities have 789 offi cials in total (as of 31 January 2009).  
Annually, provincial competent authorities send their professional officials to training courses on fishery quality and safety control organized by NAFIQAD. 
3. Research institutes assisting state management in food safety control 
14. Monitoring Centres for Aquaculture envir onment and Epidemic (under Institutes of 
Aquaculture Research Nos. 1, 2 and 3) are available. 
B. E
NVIRONMENT MONITORING RESULTS IN TRA AND BASA FARMING  
15. During the recent years, in order to develop sustainable tra and basa farming, the Ministry of 
Agriculture and Rural Development has carried out surveys and planning of farming areas in 
accordance with Sector Standards on Tra and Basa  farming (No.: 28TCN 192:2004) to ensure food 
safety and friendly environment.  
16. Vietnamese Competent Authorities regularly conduct environment and food safety 
surveillance in aquaculture areas: 
- Since 2004, Monitoring Centres for Aquaculture environment and Epidemic under 
Research Institutes for Aqu aculture have developed the programmes of aquaculture 
environment monitoring and surveillance in Mekong Delta Zone with frequency of 
four times a year in its upper, middle and lo wer reaches.  The surv eillance results show 
that water quality index (pH, turbidity, salinity, DO, H 2S, Nitrit) range in the permitted 
level and meet the water standards for fresh water fish. 
- The sanitation monitoring programme for bivalve mollusc production areas has been 
implemented since 1999.  The microbiological testing results ( E. Coli , Coliform) in 
bivalve mollusc production areas in lower Mekong show that these production areas are graded at class B and authorized to ha rvest bivalve molluscs to be processed for 
export to the European Communities, New Zealand and the United States (harvesting 
notes and monitoring results are re gularly uploaded on website:  www.nafiqad.gov.vn
).  
This demonstrates that water in Mekong River has not yet been contaminated with 
microorganisms. 
- The residues monitoring programme for certain  harmful substances in aquaculture fish 
and products thereof has been implemen ted since 1999 and the results of the 
programme show that residues of contaminants (heavy metals, pesticides, etc.) are not-detected or detected at the levels lower than the MRLs in tra and basa catfish flesh 
(Notifications of monthly and annually m onitoring results are uploaded on website:  
www.nafiqad.gov.vn). 
17. The above monitoring programmes show that Me kong River has not been micro-biologically 
nor physicochemically polluted and it is appropria te for aquaculture and fish cultured in Mekong 
basin comprehensively to meet the food hygiene and safety requirements. G/SPS/GEN/931 
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  C. H
YGIENE AND SAFETY CONTROL OF TRA AND BASA PRODUCTION  
1. Control results at  aquaculture and post-harvesting stages 
18. Local competent authorities in provinces and c ities regularly inspect and monitor the use of 
chemicals, antibiotics and hygiene conditions in Tr a and Basa farms.  The farms applying sustainable 
aquaculture models according to GAP, CoC are inspected and certified in conformity with Decision 
No. 56/2008/QDD-BNN dated 29 April 2008 of the Mini stry of Agriculture and Rural Development. 
19. To prevent and verify the abuse of antibio tics, chemicals and harmful substances in 
aquaculture, particularly in Tra and Basa farmi ng, NAFIQAD has been implementing the monitoring 
programme for certain harmful substances and resi dues thereof in aquaculture animals since 1999.  
The results of the programme show that residues of  contaminants (heavy metals, pesticides) are not-
detected or detected at the levels lower than the MR Ls in Tra and Basa catfish flesh (Notifications of 
monthly and annually monitoring results are upl oaded on website:  www.nafiqad.gov.vn).  This 
programme has been inspected and recognized by competent authorities of Canada, the European 
Communities and the United States and regarding th e organizational system, legislation and practical 
control activities. 
20. In addition, NAFIQAD has also carried out the Post-Harvest Sanitation Monitoring Program 
including carrying out inspection of hygiene cond itions at primary production units (fishing vessels, 
fishing ports/landing sites, middlemen);  sampling of post-harvested fishery products (including Tra 
and Basa) for testing and verifying criteria of ch emicals, antibiotics, pathogenic microbiology and 
preservation substances.  Violations are strictly treated. 
2. Control results at processing stage 
21. Fishery processing establishments are enforced  to build up and implement HACCP-based 
quality management programme and risk management  (antibiotics, chemical residues, pathogenic 
microbiology, toxin, etc.) in compliance with Vi etnamese requirements (Sector Standards: No. 28 
TCN 129:1998 on fishery processing establishments - HACCP-based quality management programme 
and No. 28 TCN 130:1998 on fishery processing establishments - basic hygiene and food safety 
conditions). 
22. Fishery processing establishments are prohibited to use raw materials without clear origin. 
Raw materials must be t ested for pathogenic microbiology, banned and restricted antibiotics, chemical 
residues before being processed by establishments. 
23. NAFIQAD verifies the effectiveness of the own- check applied by the establishments by 
carrying out regular inspection and taking samples to test for food safety criteria if necessary, in 
accordance with Vietnamese regulations (the Decision No. 649/2000/ Q Đ-BTS dated 4 August 2000 
of the Minister of Fisheries, replaced by the Decision No. 117/2008/ Q Đ-BNN dated 
11 December 2008 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development). 
24. Under the framework of regular inspections carried out by the competent authorities of 
Canada, the European Communities, Korea and the United States, etc., the effectiveness of food 
safety control system in Vietnamese fishery, particularly Tra and Basa processing, have been  
recognized.  Please see the number of Vietnamese fishery processing establishments approved to export their products (including tra and basa) to  some importing countries in the Table 1 and the 
quantity of Tra and Basa expor ted in 2008 in Table 2. G/SPS/GEN/931 
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  Table 1 - Number of establishments approve d for export, broken down by markets 
(as of 20 April 2009) 
 
Markets Total of approved processing 
establishments Approved processing establishments 
of Tra and Basa 
European Communities 300 90 
Japan 440 120 
United States 438 90 
Korea 438 120 
China 440 120 
Canada 232 86 
 Source:  The National Agro-Forestry-Fi sheries Quality Assurance Department 
Table 2 - Quantity of Tra and Basa exported in 2008 (by market) 
Item Markets Quantity 
(tons) Item Markets Quantity 
(tons) 
I. EC:  224,310 tons 
1 Spain 46,237 14 Denmark 1,370
2 Germany 41,959 15 Bulgaria 1,723
3 Netherlands 33,278 16 Cyprus 844
4 Poland 37,056 17 Latvia 1,226
5 Belgium 14,399 18 Slovenia 575
6 Italy 16,137 19 Austria 394
7 United Kingdom 5,960 20 Slovak Rep. 345
8 France 4,807 21 Hungary 335
9 Portugal 4,372 22 Malta 146
10 Lithuania 4,353 23 Estonia 162
11 Sweden 2,744 24 Finland 33
12 Greece 2,955 25 Ireland 33
13 Czech Republic 2,866 26 Luxembourg 1
II. North America:  32,057 tons 
27 US 24,179 28 Canada 7,878
III. ASEAN:  33,953 tons 
29 Singapore 11,237 33 Cambodia 1,007
30 Thailand 8,163 34 Indonesia 1,004
31 Malaysia 8,584 35 Brunei 679
32 Philippines 3,279   
IV. China and Hong Kong, China:  18,519 tons 
36 Hong Kong, China 16,647 37 China 1,872G/SPS/GEN/931 
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  Item Markets Quantity 
(tons) Item Markets Quantity 
(tons) 
V. Other markets:  331,988 tons 
38 Russia 118,155 51 Georgia 3,054 
39 Ukraine 74,359 52 Israel 2,180 
40 Mexico 23,154 53 Dominican Rep. 2,586 
41 Egypt 26,630 54 Switzerland 1,717 
42 Australia 12,776 55 Kuwait 1,686 
43 Saudi Arabia 10,831 56 Syria 1,840 
44 United Arab Emirates 10,244 57 Chinese Taipei 2,211 
45 Japan 5,217 58 Costa Rica 1,325 
46 Jordan 4.419 59 Moldova 1,723 
47 Romania 4,929 60 Algeria 1,055 
48 Colombia 3,562 61 Croatia 908 
49 Lebanon 3,369 62 Bahrain 936 
50 Belarus 3,279 63 Oman 856 
64 Kazakhstan 950 97 Northern Mariana 
Islands 42 
65 Qatar 538 98 Brazil 42 
66 Nigeria 717 99 Cuba 53 
67 Guatemala 477 100 Argentina 49 
68 Mauritius 329 101 Liechtenstein 74 
69 Korea, Rep. 318 102 Libya 55 
70 Dominica 457 103 Panama 33 
71 Serbia 318 104 Liberia 46 
72 South Africa 279 105 Cameroon 48 
73 Chile 280 106 Guinea 19 
74 Montenegro 321 107 Armenia 50 
75 Montserrat 301 108 Polynesia 21 
76 Iraq 248 109 Albania 24 
77 Other countries of ex-
Yugoslavia 217 110 Iran 11 
78 Morocco 229 111 Monaco 21 
79 Portugal 208 112 Malawi 22 
80 Reunion 183 113 New Caledonia  22 
81 Puerto Rico 131 114 Cote d’Ivoire  23 
82 Honduras 176 115 Afghanistan 23 
83 Ireland 151 116 Mozambique 48 
84 Peru 123 117 Sierra Leone 23 
85 Venezuela 144 118 Suriname 25 
86 New Zealand 152 119 Bhutan 22 
87 Pakistan 137 120 Kyrgyzstan 25 
88 Norway 108 121 Macao, China 8 
89 Tunisia 91 122 Mali 15 
90 Senegal 95 123 Mauritania 12 
91 Guam 103 124 India 10 
92 Aruba 59 125 Martinique 8 
93 Bahamas 63 126 Ghana 2 
94 Azerbaijan 75 127 Anti gua and Barbuda 2 G/SPS/GEN/931 
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  Item Markets Quantity 
(tons) Item Markets Quantity 
(tons) 
95 Uruguay 56 128 Maldives 1 
96 Former Yugoslav Rep. 
of Macedonia 74    
     
TOTAL 640,827 
 Source:  Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers - VASEP (Source:   Viet Nam 
 Customs)  
3. Inspection and certification of pre-export fishery consignments 
25. In accordance with Vietnamese regulations (Decision No. 118/2008/Q Đ-BNN dated 11 
December 2008 of the Ministry of Agriculture  and Rural Development), the inspection and 
certification of pre-export fishery consignments ar e performed in line with requirements of importing 
countries.  In case importing countries do not apply this requirement, the inspection and certification 
fishery consignments intended for export can  be carried out as required by consignor 
(importer/exporter). 
26. To certify a consignment, NAFIQAD Branches ne ed to verify not only production records, 
but also origin, packaging and labeling of the consignment. The sampling for testing organoleptic, physical and microorganism criteria ( E. Coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, Vibrio cholera ) and 
chemicals residues (Malachite Green, Chlorampheni col, Nitrofurans) are carried as required by 
importing countries or consignor.  The Health Certif icate can only be granted to the consignment in 
case of satisfactory testing results. 
27. Since 2002, NAFIQAD laboratories have applied quality management and been accredited 
with ISO 17025 by Vietnam Bureau of Accredita tion (VILAS-BoA), Singapore Accreditation Council 
(SAC-Singlas) and Norwegian Accreditation ( NA).  Annually, these laboratories have also 
participated in international proficiency t esting programmes and achieved successful results. 
NAFIQAD testing capabilities have al so been recognized by the European Communities and the 
United States following their regular inspections carried out in Viet Nam. 
28. Up to date, NAFIQAD has signed bilateral cooperation arrangements with certain EC 
member States, Korea, Russia, China, Canada  and Chinese Taipei.  These countries have also 
recognized NAFIQAD competencies on quality and safety control of fish and fishery products.  The 
inspection and certification of fishery consignments  intended for export to these countries are carried 
out in compliance with their requirements. 
D. C
ONCLUSION  
29. Quality and safety control of fishery products (including Tra and Basa catfish) in Viet Nam is 
carried out comprehensively and effectively in  the whole production chain from aquaculture to 
processing and export.  
30. The competencies and effectiveness of the Viet namese Competent Authority in charge of 
fishery quality control have been approved by co mpetent authorities of importing countries (Canada, 
China, Korea, the European Co mmunities, the United States and Russia).  Vietnamese fishery 
products (including Tra and Basa catfish) have b een exported to over 128 countries/territories and 
appreciated by foreign consumers. G/SPS/GEN/931 
Page 8  
 
  Appendix 1 
 
LIST OF CHEMICALS AND ANTIBIOTICS BANNED FOR  
MANUFACTURING AND TRADING IN AQUACULTURE 
 
(To enclose the promulgation of this Circular No. 15/2009/TT-BNN dated 
17 April 2009 of Head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) 
 
No. Chemicals and antibiotics Applied for 
1 Aristolochia spp and by products 
2 Chloramphenicol 
3 Chloroform 
4 Chlorpromazine 
5 Colchicine 
6 Dapsone 
7 Dimetridazole 
8 Metronidazole 
9 Nitrofuran (including Furazolidone) 
10 Ronidazole 
11 Green Malachite (Malachite) 
12 Ipronidazole 
13 Nitroimidazoles others 
14 Clenbuterol 
15 Diethylstilbestrol (DES) 
16 Glycopeptides 
17 Trichlorfon (Dipterex) 
18 Gentian Violet (Crystal violet) 
19 Fluoroquinolones (banned for manufacturing and  trading  
 in  aquaculture  exporting  to the United States  an 
North of America Animal feed, veterinary 
medicines, chemicals, 
environmental 
treatment substances, 
disinfectants, substances for 
maintain, hand cream in all 
breeding facilities, aqua culture 
and amphibians, 
processing and storage for 
fishery services. 
 G/SPS/GEN/931 
Page 9 
 
 
  Appendix 2 
 
LIST OF DRUGS, CHEMICALS AND ANTIBIOTICS BANNED  
FOR VETERINARY USES 
 
(To enclose the promulgation of this Circular No. 15/2009/TT-BNN dated 
17 April 2009 of Head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) 
 
No. Chemicals and antibiotics 
1 Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin;Chlornitromycin; Laevomycin,Chlorocid, 
Leukomycin) 
2 Furazolidon and Nitrofuran derivatives (Nitrofuran, Furacillin, Nitrofurazon, 
Furacin, Nitrofurantoin, Furoxon, Orafur an, Furadonin, Furadantin, Furaltadon, 
Payzone, Furazolin, Nitrofurmethon, Nitrofuridin, Nitrovin) 
3 Dimetridazole (Emtryl) 
4 Metronidazole (Trichomonacid, Flagyl, Klion, Avimetronid) 
5 Dipterex (Metriphonat, Trichlor phon, Neguvon, Chlorophos,DTHP); DDVP 
(Dichlorvos; Dichlorovos) 
6 Eprofloxacin 
7 Ciprofloxacin 
8 Ofloxacin 
9 Carbadox 
10 Olaquidox 
11 Bacitracin Zn 
12 Tylosin phosphate 
13 Green Malachite (Malachite) 
14 Gentian Violet (Crystal violet) 
 G/SPS/GEN/931 
Page 10  
 
  Appendix 3 
 
LIST OF CHEMICALS AND ANTIBIOTICS LIMITED FOR MANUFACTURING  
AND TRADING IN AQUACULTURE 
 
(To enclose the promulgation of this Circular No. 15/2009/TT-BNN dated 
17 April 2009 of Head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) 
 
No. Chemicals and antibiotics Max. residues 
(MRL)(ppb) 
1 Amoxicillin 50 
2 Ampicillin 50 
3 Benzylpenicillin 50 
4 Cloxacillin 300 
5 Dicloxacillin 300 
6 Oxacillin 300 
7 Oxolinic Acid 100 
8 Colistin 150 
9 Cypermethrim 50 
10 Deltamethrin 10 
11 Diflubenzuron 1000 
12 Teflubenzuron 500 
13 Emamectin 100 
14 Erythromycine 200 
15 Tilmicosin 50 
16 Tylosin 100 
17 Florfenicol 1000 
18 Lincomycine 100 
19 Neomycine 500 
20 Paromomycin 500 
21 Spectinomycin 300 
22 Chlortetracycline 100 
23 Oxytetracycline 100 
24 Tetracycline 100 
25 Sulfonamide (kinds) 100 
26 Trimethoprim 50 
27 Ormetoprim 50 
28 Tricainemethanesulfonate 15-330 
29 Danofloxacin 100 
30 Difloxacin 300 
31 Enrofloxacin + Ciprofloxacin 100 
32 Sarafloxacin 30 
33 Flumequine 600 
 G/SPS/GEN/931 
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  Appendix 4 
 
LIST OF DRUGS, CHEMICALS AND ANTIBIOTICS LIMITED  
FOR VETERINARY USES 
 
(To enclose the promulgation of this Circular No. 15/2009/TT-BNN dated 
17 April 2009 of Head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) 
 
No. Drugs, chemicals and antibiotics 
1 Improvac (no. of registration: PFU-85 by Pfizer 
2 Australia Pty Limited) 
3 Spiramycin 
4 Avoparcin 
5 Meticlorpidol 
6 Meticlorpidol/Methylbenzoquate 
7 Amprolium (powder) 
8 Amprolium/ethopate 
9 Nicarbazin 
10 Flavophospholipol 
11 Salinomycin 
12 Avilamycin 
13 Monensin 
 
 
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