Concerns Raised by Vietnamese Shrimp Exporters Over Japan's New Antibiotic Residue Regulations

In a recent development, Vietnamese seafood exporters and producers have expressed concerns regarding Japan's newly established limits on the presence of doxycycline antibiotics in exported aquatic products. This move has posed challenges for Vietnam's shrimp exports to Japan, prompting the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) to address the issue with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

According to a report from SeafoodNews on April 24, VASEP highlighted its apprehension regarding Japan's new restrictions on doxycycline antibiotics in aquatic product exports. The association emphasized that these recent limitations have presented difficulties for Vietnam's shrimp exports to Japan.

VASEP pointed out that while many countries neither prohibit the use of doxycycline antibiotics in aquaculture nor inspect residues of these antibiotics in imported aquatic products, several markets such as the European Union, China, and New Zealand allow a maximum residue limit of 100 parts per billion (ppb) in imported aquatic products.

The association believes that this residue limit is appropriate for the rigorously controlled aquatic products produced under current aquaculture practices.

Under Japan's current regulations, the acceptable maximum threshold for chemical residues and antibiotics in imported seafood without set maximum residue limits (MRLs) is more than ten times stricter than in other countries. It is equivalent to just one-tenth of the maximum threshold acceptable in many other markets.

To address the challenges faced by seafood exporters, VASEP has urged the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to convey its concerns to the Japanese authorities and request an adjustment of the MRLs for doxycycline antibiotics to levels comparable to those set by the European Union, China, New Zealand, and other countries.

Vietnamese shrimp exporters are expressing their worries about Japan's new regulations on doxycycline antibiotic residues in exported aquatic products. The stringent limits imposed by Japan have created obstacles for Vietnam's shrimp exports, prompting the industry to seek a reconsideration of the maximum residue limits. The outcome of this issue will have implications for the future trade relationship between Vietnam and Japan in the seafood sector.