Answer given by Mr Dalli on behalf of the Commission
31.3.2010
According to Comext (a generalised system for storage, extraction, aggregation and dissemination of statistical data), 220 000 tonnes of pangasius fish were imported from Vietnam into the EU in 2009. However, the Commission cannot provide detailed information on suppliers due to confidentiality reasons.
The Commission inspection service from the Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Policy (FVO — Food and Veterinary Office located in Grange, Ireland) carried out two inspection visits to Vietnam in 2009:
- —to evaluate the control system in place governing the production of live bivalve molluscs and fishery products intended for export to the EU. The final report is available at:http://ec.europa.eu/food/fvo/rep_details_en.cfm?rep_id=2289;
- —to evaluate the implementation of national measures, aimed at the control of residues of veterinary medicinal products. The report of this inspection will soon be available on the web page of the Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Policy.
During these missions, the inspection teams visited five processing establishments only dealing with pangasius fish fillets and three fish farms. In accordance with the FVO procedures, the detailed information on the establishments and farms visited is not provided for reasons of confidentiality. None of the referred visits resulted in withdrawal of approval of processing establishments for export to the EU or in withdrawal of registration of fish farms that supply fish to those establishments. The shortcomings identified by the mission teams are described in the final reports, as well as the related recommendations, published on the website of the Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Policy.
During the last five years, Member States did not report to the Commission any findings of heavy metals, dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) or arsenic in pangasius imported from Vietnam into the EU.
The Vietnamese competent authorities have in place two plans which cover contaminants:
Under the national residues control plan, heavy metals, organochlorinated substances and dyes are covered at the relevant stages of production. The plan complies with the minimum requirements under the EU legislation and the Commission inspection noted in its report that the results were, in general, satisfactory.
There is a separate plan covering bivalve molluscs which includes the testing for dioxins.