Tra fish is processed for export at the Go Dang Co in the southern province of Tien Giang. Seafood exporters have asked the Government to delay a regulation requiring tra fish exporters to register with the Viet Nam Tra Fish Association. — VNA/VNS Photo Minh Tri

HA NOI (Biz Hub)— The Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (Vasep) on Tuesday asked the Government to review Decree 36 on tra fish as it had several limitations.

Vasep also asked for an extension of the implementation date of the decree from June 20 to July 1.

The Decree 36, about tra fish raising, processing and export issued recently, regulated that tra fish export contracts must be registered with the Viet Nam Tra Fish Association. Registry of the tra fish association would become a requirement at customs clearance.

This was regarded as unreasonable.

In business, economic contracts were secret and information sharing might cause difficulties to enterprises, the association said.

The decree had no regulations about responsibility of the tra fish association in keeping the business information confidential, or with regard to compensation when the information was leaked or used for self-seeking purposes.

According to Vasep's Vice President Nguyen Huu Dung, the decree also lacks regulations about foodstuff or feeding processes.

In addition, the collection of a fee on evaluating tra fish commercial business might be a burden on enterprises.

According to a report of the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development , tra fish export saw a recovery in the first four months of this year.

More than 208,455 tonnes of tra fish, worth US$521.3 million, was shipped abroad. This was an increase of 5.6 per cent in volume and 23 per cent in volume over the same period last year, at an average price of $2.5 per kg. — VNS