Trung Chanh
Workers semi-process shrimp at a factory in the Mekong Delta. The U.S. detects 107 shrimp batches containing higher-than-permitted antibiotic residues imported from different countries including Vietnam in the first two months of this year - PHOTO: TRUNG CHANH
VASEP said the 107 shrimp batches found with higher-than-permitted antibiotic residues were the highest number in ten years. Nitrofuran, which is used to inhibit bacterial growth, and veterinary drug residues were detected in 75% of the shrimp volume.
Explaining the problem, the director of a big seafood exporter in the Mekong Delta told the Daily that as shrimp exports rose by US$1 billion last year over the previous year, export firms had been rushing to increase shrimp purchases in anticipation of stronger exports this year, so they had paid little attention to shrimp quality.
Vo Hong Ngoan, a well-known shrimp grower in the Mekong Delta city of Bac Lieu, said almost shrimp export firms have devices to check antibiotic residues but it seemed that they ignored the quality of shrimp they bought as the market grew sharply last year. Consequently, they have to pay a high price this year when more shrimp shipments were stopped from entering the U.S. market.
Ngoan said that farmers would be the most vulnerable to sluggish shrimp shipments as enterprises usually lower their buying prices when they cannot boost exports.
According to VASEP, FDA decided to intensify inspections of shrimp imports.
The U.S. also rejected certain shrimp volumes imported from Malaysia and India due to higher-than-allowed antibiotic residues in the first two months of this year.
Đăng ký: VietNam News