VASEP proposes urgent measures to repair EU's "yellow card" for seafood

ABO/NDO – The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) has sent an official document proposing a range of urgent actions for February and March to overcome the European Commission (EC)’s “yellow card” on Vietnam’s seafood.

Illustrative Image (Photo: Thai Thien).

The VASEP proposed that the General Department of Fisheries coordinated with the VASEP to organise a mid-term review meeting on the implementation of tasks and activities to overcome the "yellow card" and discuss relevant urgent measures to have the warning rescinded.

In addition, the VASEP also proposed coordination between delegations of VASEP's IUU Steering Committee and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) task force in discussing IUU (illegal, unreported, and unregulated) and the “yellow card” with the EU and the Republic of Korea.

VASEP recommends that the MARD issue a written guideline to provinces, cities, and the General Department of Fisheries for communication activities failing to progress in fighting IUU (illegal, unreported and unregulated) fishing.

In 2017, the European Commission gave the six-month “yellow card” warning to Vietnam’s seafood as it found that Vietnam is not doing enough to combat illegal fishing.

As scheduled, the EU will re-evaluate Vietnam’s efforts and improvements in IUU fishing in April, 2018. If the results are positive, Vietnam will receive another six-month “yellow card” after granting the country a “green card”. Otherwise, a “red card” may be applied, which means Vietnamese seafood is banned from the EU market.

(Source: NDO)