According to Vietnamese relevant authorities, Vietnam controls the use of antibiotics in fishery production and trading in line with regulations of Europe, America and other markets such as Japan, Canada, Republic of Korea and Switzerland… Vietnamese fishery producers, processors and exporters have abided by requirements on quality and hygiene safety, including those requirements on antibiotics used in fishery products. Fluoroquinolones is in the list of forbidden antibiotics issued by Vietnamese relevant authorities.

The Vietnamese Government has instructed ministries and agencies related to the aquaculture and processing industry to strictly observe control regulations on antibiotics use in fishery production and trading for not only export but also domestic market.

Directive No 7/2002/CT-TTg issued on February 25, 2002 by the Prime Minister "on strengthening the control of antibiotics and substances used in processing and trading of foodstuffs of animal origin" strictly prohibits the use of antibiotics in fishery production and trading that are harmful to human health. The Government ordered ministries, including the Ministry of Fisheries, to monitor and supervise the implementation of this Directive in fishery production and trading. The Ministry of Fisheries has issued a number of documents providing guidance to control of the use of harmful antibiotics in aquaculture and production for export and domestic market.

In February 2005, the Ministry of Fisheries issued Decision No 07/2005/QD-BTS banning the use of 17 types of chemicals and antibiotics, 10 of which are also banned in Europe and 11 banned in the United States. It also includes 34 other chemicals and antibiotics, including Fluoroquinolones, which are also subjected to limited use in Europe and the United States. In March 2005, the Minister issued Instruction No 03/2005/CT-BTS on " strenthening the control of harmful chemicals and antibiotics residues in fishery activities". The Instruction stipulates control measures to be taken in fishery aquaculture, processing and trading in provinces and cities to maintain the reputation for Vietnamese aquaculture products. On the basis of updated information on the supplemented list of forbidden antibiotics by the United States, on August 18^th 2005, the Ministry of Fisheries issued Decision 26/2005/QD-BTS on the list of 11 types of antibiotics in the Flouroquinolones group which is prohibited from using in the production and trading of fisheries exported to the United States and North America.

The National Fisheries Quality Assurance and Veterinary Directorate (NAFIQAVED) under the Ministry of Fisheries is responsible for the control and supervision of drugs and feedstuffs production for farming, raising and treating in aquaculture. Control measures are executed in the whole farming process. Samples for antibiotic testing are taken before harvesting and in the process. The products are also under strict supervision before sale.

However, due to some objective and subjective factors, occasionally there are cases where a couple of products still contain certain amount of antibiotics residue surpassing the allowed level. These are only particular cases. In some cases, it was because of technical discrepancy between Vietnamese and foreign laboratories or of a certain container storing dissimilar products.

For those export lots with antibiotic residue surpassing the allowed level, Vietnam’s relevant authorities have carried out investigation into each stage of the whole process from the farming location to the processing one. They also required concerned establishments to take specific measures to improve the situation and then inform concerned authorities in Vietnam and in the import countries. If any product containing the forbidden antibiotics is detected, Vietnamese competent authorities would order the suspension of the establishment’s production until the cause is found and effective measures taken. Then the products of the establishment would be put under continued close scrutiny until its prestige be restored.

As observed by annual investigating missions of European Union Committee (the last was in May 2005) and of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (the last was in July 2005), Vietnam’s control on fishery quality and hygiene safety strictly complies with regulations on food safety of EU and the United States.

Vietnamese agencies concerned have taken and will take extremely strict measures to detect and prevent any products that fail to meet the safety standards for the interests of consumers as well as aquaculture producers and traders.