Control from Raw Materials to Processing Plants
Exported tilapia is controlled under Vietnam’s seafood food safety management system throughout the supply chain, covering raw materials, processing establishments, export consignments, certificates and feedback from importing markets. The focal authority is the National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality, Processing and Market Development Authority (NAFIQPM) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, together with regional centers responsible for assessment, sampling, testing and certificate issuance.
Seafood processing establishments for export must operate quality management systems based on HACCP principles and meet requirements concerning facilities, equipment, hygiene, water and ice, cross-contamination control, temperature, storage, traceability, labeling and production records.
Competent authorities also inspect records on origin, raw material reception, HACCP systems, food safety monitoring results, alerts, customer feedback and the company’s compliance history. For establishments that fail to meet requirements, corrective actions must be implemented and the facilities reassessed before approval is considered.
For farmed tilapia, controls are also implemented at the production area and raw material level through monitoring programs for residues of harmful substances in farmed aquatic products. This ensures that food safety is controlled not only at processing plants but throughout the entire production chain.
Control of Each Export Consignment
Before an export certificate is issued, competent authorities examine documentation and verify information on the consignment, storage conditions, packaging, labeling, appearance and sensory characteristics. Where required, samples may be collected for laboratory testing once the relevant conditions have been met.
If documentation or storage conditions fail to meet requirements, the inspection process is suspended for the preparation of an official record and appropriate handling. This mechanism helps ensure that only consignments meeting food safety requirements are issued export certificates.
Management Based on Lists and Compliance History
Vietnam applies a classification and priority-list system in the management of exported seafood establishments. Facilities with a good compliance record that are included on approved export lists and fall under the priority category may have certificates issued based on the results of assessments of the effectiveness of their food safety hazard controls. In contrast, establishments outside the priority list must undergo assessment and batch-by-batch sampling and testing before an export certificate is issued.
According to the list updated by NAFIQPM on June 26, 2026, Vietnam had 868 seafood production and trading establishments participating in the Export Seafood Certification Program. Of these, 505 seafood establishments were listed for the EU market and 798 for the South Korean market.
For the tilapia industry, approximately 510 qualified seafood processing establishments eligible for export are capable of participating in the processing of tilapia products.
A Foundation for Expanding Exports
The control system covering raw materials, processing, testing, certification and export provides an important foundation for Vietnam’s tilapia to meet increasingly stringent requirements in international markets.
As tilapia exports continue to expand into the United States, Brazil, Japan and the Middle East, maintaining food safety controls, traceability and compliance with market-specific standards will play an important role in building importer confidence, improving product quality and strengthening the competitiveness of Vietnamese tilapia.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first seven months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the United States reached US$189 million, down 8% year-on-year. In July alone, export value reached US$22 million, down 28%. This trend indicates that U.S. demand for pangasius imports has remained relatively cautious this year, as importers tend to maintain moderate inventory levels and limit stockpiling.
(vasep.com.vn) After three days at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam International Fisheries Exhibition – VIETFISH 2026 – has successfully concluded, leaving a strong impression in terms of scale, visitor numbers, the quality of business connections, and innovative activities. With more than 14,000 m² of exhibition space, 335 companies, 568 booths, participation from representatives of 17 countries and territories, and nearly 15,000 visitors, VIETFISH 2026 has once again affirmed its role as an important meeting point for Vietnam’s and the global seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Held as part of Vietfish 2026 from August 19–21 at SECC in Ho Chi Minh City, a series of five specialized seminars provided the seafood business community with updates on markets, technology, standards, human resources and cooperation opportunities. With the participation of experts, international organizations, government agencies and businesses from Vietnam and abroad, the seminars created an additional platform for professional exchange alongside the exhibition’s product showcases and business networking activities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the morning of August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – VIETFISH 2026 officially opened at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. With 568 booths representing 335 companies, alongside the presence of senior government officials, local authorities, diplomatic missions and international partners, VIETFISH 2026 kicks off three days of business networking, technology exchange and market engagement under the overarching theme “Innovation and Sustainability.”
The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) officially announces that the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition (Vietfish 2026) will take place from August 19–21, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports recorded strong growth in the first half of 2026, but the performance was increasingly uneven across products, markets and enterprises. VASEP’s newly released premium report provides the detailed data and analysis needed to understand what lies behind the headline figures and prepare for the more challenging months ahead.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Brazil remains one of the key markets for Vietnamese pangasius in South America. However, exports to the market showed signs of slowing in the first half of 2026, while frozen pangasius fillets continued to account for the overwhelming majority of exports.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Marking 27 years of supporting Vietnam’s seafood industry, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition (VIETFISH 2026) will officially return from August 19–21, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, on its largest scale ever. Under the core theme “Innovation – Sustainability,” the event promises to provide a comprehensive picture of the transformation of Vietnam’s seafood industry toward greater value addition and sustainable development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than three weeks remaining, the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition – Vietfish 2026 will officially take place from August 19–21, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Under the theme "Innovation – Sustainability," Vietfish 2026 will provide a comprehensive networking platform for seafood businesses, buyers, distributors, industry experts, government agencies, and domestic and international visitors.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition – Vietfish 2026, the technical seminar “Green and Sustainable Technology Solutions for the Aquaculture and Seafood Processing Value Chain” will take place from 09:30 to 11:45 on August 20, 2026, at Convention Room B, Level 2, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City. The seminar is jointly organized by VASEP, the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance, and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Vietnam, focusing on technological innovation and sustainable transformation across Vietnam’s seafood value chain.
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