The US delegation will investigate the production process of tra fish from May 14-25, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service, an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, will conduct a field inspection under the US catfish control programme for Viet Nam’s tra fish production.

Regarding the upcoming inspections by the US, the ministry has asked its agencies to set up plans and prepare detailed action programmes as well as ensure the best conditions for the delegation during its visit to Viet Nam, reported vneconomy.vn.

The National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department has proposed enterprises producing and exporting tra fish, one kind of Siluriformes fish, to the US to implement regulations compiled by the ministry in accordance with US regulations under the fish food safety control programme for Siluriformes fish exported to the US.

The enterprises have been asked to report to the ministry about any difficulty encountered during the export of Siluriformes to the US to ensure timely solutions.

In addition to this, the enterprises should cooperate with the department to set up working plans with the US delegation.

From September 1, 2017, the exports of tra fish to the US have been strictly controlled at every stage - from breeding, harvesting and transporting to the processing plant to processing and exporting. The product must meet 85 requirements on veterinary drugs, 106 requirements on pesticides, four requirements on dyestuffs, 17 requirements on metals and eight requirements on micro-organisms and chemicals based on parameters set by the US.

Currently, Viet Nam has 57 facilities licensed to export catfish to the US. — VNS