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Arrangement Regarding the Inspection and Certification for Absence of Certain Drug Residues in Aquaculture Fish and Fish Products from Vietnam

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30 November 2006

TO: ALL IMPORTERS OF FISH AND SEAFOOD PRODUCTS

SUBJECT: ARRANGEMENT REGARDING THE INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION FOR ABSENCE OF CERTAIN DRUG RESIDUES IN AQUACULTURE FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS FROM VIETNAM

The following is to inform importers that CFIA and the National Fisheries Quality Assurance and Veterinary Directorate of the Vietnam Ministry of Fisheries (NAFIQAVED) have signed an Arrangement which recognizes that NAFIQAVED will test aquaculture fish and fish products shipped from Vietnam to Canada for the following drug residues: Chloramphenicol, Nitrofurans, Malachite Green (MG) and Leucomalachite Green (LMG) and will certify that these products meet Canadian standards for these substances.

Under the Arrangement, only Vietnamese processing establishments that meet Vietnam’s specified standards are eligible for product inspection and certification by NAFIQAVED. A list of establishments can be found on the CFIA website at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/fispoi/import/viee.shtml

Effective January 1, 2007, all imported aquaculture fish and fish products from Vietnam are subject to 100% inspection in Canada for the presence of Chloramphenicol, Nitrofurans, MG and LMG. However, shipments of imported aquaculture fish and fish products from Vietnam accompanied by an acceptable Health Certificate for Aquaculture Products Originated from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and intended for Export to Canada issued by NAFIQAVED, will be inspected at a maximum frequency of 5%.

For the fish product to be eligible for the 5% inspection frequency as noted above, importers should submit a copy of the NAFIQAVED Health Certificate along with the Fish Import Notification form to the CFIA. To facilitate cross-referencing of documents, importers are encouraged to specify the reference number of the NAFIQAVED certificate on the Fish Import Notification form. Importers are responsible for maintaining the original NAFIQAVED Health Certificates and they should be available to inspectors upon request.

The CFIA will review the NAFIQAVED Health Certificate to determine whether it meets the conditions of the Arrangement. If the NAFIQAVED Health Certificate is not acceptable, the lot will be subject to the 100% inspection rate.

Please be advised that specific fish products from Vietnam which are currently on the Import Alert List due to previous non-compliance for Chloramphenicol, Nitrofurans, MG or LMG will be held and analyzed for these substances until there are four consecutive compliant shipments, regardless of whether the shipments are accompanied by the certificate. In addition, all imports of aquaculture fish and fish products from Vietnam remain subject to random inspection by CFIA for other criteria such as microbiological and chemical contaminants, other drug residues, additives, sensory, etc.

Further details of the Arrangement can be found on the CFIA website at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/fispoi/export/mupd/vieviee.shtml

If you have questions, please contact your local CFIA fish inspection office or Mr. Alf Bungay, National Manager, Inspection Systems and HACCP, Fish, Seafood and Production Division at 613-221-7026.

original signed by Sing Liem for

Mary Ann Green
Director
Fish, Seafood and Production Division
Animal Products Directorate
Canadian Food Inspection Agency