Earlier, Brazil suspended licenses of the tra fish imports from Vietnam from September 22nd, 2014 due to concerns over food hygiene and safety.

After the suspension, MARD’s Department of Animal Health discussed with relevant agencies of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) to send a letter to the Brazilian Department of Animal Health and Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply.

According to the letter, the Vietnamese side provided documents to explain that Brazil’s requirement on Vietnam’s emergency plan for the prevention of tra fish diseases was contrary to Vietnam’s technique and in reality also contrary to the regulations of OIE and WTO.

Consequently, on March 27th, Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture of Brazil asked the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply of Brazil to re-allow imports of Vietnamese tra fish and reverse the decision on suspension of imports of seafood products from Vietnam.

Brazil is one of the potential export markets for Vietnamese seafood products. In 2013, the country was among Vietnam’s 10 biggest seafood export markets, valued at USD123 million, reported the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors. Of this, tra fish accounted for 99%, worth USD122 million. In 2014, Vietnam passed China to top frozen fillet export in Brazil with about 44,000 tonnes of tra fish in the first eight months this year./.

Compiled by VNF