On May 19, at the webinar "Sustainability certification: win-win cooperation for effective application" organised by VASEP, the Association announced the decision to establish the "VASEP Sustainability Certification Advising Council on Certification" to support and promote businesses to apply sustainability certifications.

Seafood enterprises will be supported to effectively
apply sustainability certification. Photo: T.H

Vietnam is the third largest seafood exporter in the world. Seafood export turnover increased from US$1.8 billion USD in 2000 to $8.8 billion in 2018, and according to Vietnam's seafood development strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2045, the export value will reach $14-16 billion by 2030. Of which, aquaculture products contribute the majority of more than 60-65% and this share will certainly continue to increase in the future.

Vietnam's seafood products have been exported to more than 160 markets worldwide and are holding a certain position in fastidious markets such as the US, Japan, the EU, and the US, Korea and Australia.

With the increase in seafood production and exports, import markets also have increasingly demanding requirements, standards and certifications to control and promote sustainable aquaculture practices.

However, implementing certifications cannot avoid shortcomings so it is necessary to guide and adjust accordingly between the practice and requirements of certification to meet the trend of the import country.

Recently, VASEP has conducted a survey and synthesised opinions of member enterprises related to some shortcomings and difficulties in some procedures and criteria when implementing ASC certification standards. The association is also receiving active coordination from the ASC Organisation regarding the recommendations that have been collected and compiled.

The VASEP Sustainability Certification Advisory Council is established to assist the association's executive board in the programme of supporting member businesses to well and smoothly apply international sustainability certifications. The council will be chaired by the leader of the association's office, with members including representatives of the Directorate of Fisheries, representatives of a number of departments of agriculture and rural development, importers and some member enterprises engaging in sustainability certifications.

The Advisory Council on Sustainability Certification will perform four main tasks including: commenting on standards and procedures of seafood certification; summarising difficulties and problems of the member enterprises to exchange, dialogue and propose to solve with the certificate holder; coordinate with parties to support the capacity building of member enterprises to implement certifications and promote Vietnam’s certified seafood enterprises and their products.

The Advisory Council on Sustainability Certification will help VASEP member businesses to apply well and conveniently international sustainability certifications, contributing to improving the value and position of Vietnam's seafood products in the world market, aiming to achieve seafood exports reaching $14-16 billion by 2030.