According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, a delegation from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's food safety department inspected four Vietnamese seafood processors from April 1-4.

National Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Quality Administrative Directorate of Vietnam (NAFIQAD) Director Nguyen Tu Cuong said that for around close to 20 years, Japan has always been Vietnam's top seafood market.

Cuong said that when the first batch of seafood was sent back from Japan for containing antibiotic residue, the Vietnamese government and seafood enterprises have been dedicated to ensuring product quality and food safety to ensure the long-time trade partner's confidence.

Vietnam also really needs Japan's aid, especially technical assistance in this field, Cuong added. The NAFIQAD Director said the tour of Japanese food safety experts is also expected to provide a chance for Vietnamese to learn Japan's analysis and hygiene monitoring techniques and seafood safety standards. It would also create favourable conditions for cooperation between businesses of the two countries, he said. NAFIQAD plans to show the Japanese delegation Vietnam's food safety management and its work to control antibiotic residue in seafood exports.

The two sides are considering signing an agreement on quality and food safety control for seafood import-export between the two countries. Last year, Japan was Vietnam's second largest seafood market, buying around 119,000 tonnes, worth nearly US$746 million. The figure represents 21.1 per cent of the country's total seafood export value.