Workers are processing shrimp in a factory. Shrimp is among Viet Nam's seafood exported to European countries. — Photo VNA/VNS

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — The Directorate-General for Health and Consumers under the European Committee (EC) has issued a warning to 19 Vietnamese seafood exporters over the excessive antibiotics residue detected in their frozen seafood.

The announcement was made by Viet Nam's National Agro-Forestry-Fishery Quality Assurance Department (NAFIQAD) on December 17. In response to this concern, the NAFIQAD requested the 19 exporters to quickly investigate the case by obtaining seafood samples and testing these for antibiotics residue. The exporters were also asked to identify possible solutions to the issue. Reports on the case must be submitted to NAFIQAD by December 23.

The NAFIQAD also asked for the agro-aqua-forestry quality assurance departments in the central and southern regions to conduct unscheduled inspections of the businesses of the 19 exporters. The reports for these investigations are due to the NAFIQAD by December 31.

The EC's warning on frozen seafood imported from Viet Nam included shrimp, catfish and goby fish.

In addition, the EC announced that it will impose a ban if Viet Nam fails to provide a reasonable explanation for the case and possible solutions by January 9, 2015.

If the EC imposes the ban, then seafood from Viet Nam will no longer be imported by the EU member countries. Moreover, Viet Nam's reputation for seafood exports will be severely affected. — VNS