Spain: VN’s basa catfish does not infringe EU regulations

According to Spain’s Servimedia News Agency, in a written document responding to questions from MP Joaquín García Díez about the import of catfish from Việt Nam, the Spanish Government ruled out the violation of food hygiene regulations.  

The Spanish Government reiterated that no infringement leading to the ban of catfish imported from Việt Nam has been found in Europe. 

Europe’s import of tra and basa catfish has increased by 60% from 2004.

According to statistics from the Spanish Government, import of Vietnamese tra and basa catfish increased year after year to 32,602 tons in 2007 from 5,785 tons in 2004, 9,251 tons in 2005 and 21,925 tons in 2006.

Spain is the largest EU importer of Vietnamese tra and basa catfish.

By late January, Spain’s Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs announced that Vietnamese catfish meets the EU’s food safety regulations and poses no harm to human health.

By Ngọc Vân