Consequently, Vietnam's export of spiny lobster to the Chinese market is facing difficulties.
The National Agency for Quality, Processing and Market Development (NAFIQPM) has just submitted a report to the leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on the results of online meetings with the Animal and Plant Quarantine Supervision Department of the General Administration of Customs of China regarding the export of spiny lobster.
During the meeting, NAFIQPM raised the issue of the unexplained disruption in the export of spiny lobsters to China since August 2023. They also mentioned sending documents to the Animal and Plant Quarantine Supervision Department requesting information exchange and updates on any new policies (if any) from the Chinese side, but have not yet received a response.
The representative of the Department of Fisheries also provided information related to lobster farming activities in Vietnam, including the species being farmed, farming methods, production volume, and origin of broodstock, as requested by the other party.
Recently, exports of spiny lobsters to China have faced difficulties, with prices dropping sharply (Photo: TL).
The Animal and Plant Quarantine Supervision Department of the General Administration of Customs of China has provided information on China's regulations regarding spiny lobsters.
Accordingly, in May 2023, China amended its Wildlife Protection Law, which prohibits the catching, use, trading, and sale of spiny lobsters and other species on the List of Endangered Species of Wildlife in Need of Protection.
The General Administration of Customs of China has internally notified local customs agencies about this regulation for implementation.
The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture is the regulatory and management body for wild-harvested spiny lobsters, therefore, Vietnam is requested to contact this agency for specific information if needed.
Regarding farmed spiny lobsters, your side requires that they not be caught directly from the sea and that there must be clear evidence of the farming process; wild-harvested broodstock must not be used (the broodstock must be F2 generation).
Regarding the import procedures for farmed spiny lobsters into China, importers must obtain a Wildlife Protection permit from the Fisheries Bureau (Ministry of Agriculture of China). Customs clearance and food safety inspection procedures remain unchanged from before.
Packaging facilities and spiny lobster farming facilities exporting their products are required to register a list including specific information about the lobster farming facility.
The Animal and Plant Quarantine Supervision Department announced that it will send the new registration form to the Vietnamese side (through the Vietnamese Trade Office in China) to conduct a review and register packaging facilities and spiny lobster farming facilities exporting to China.
After receiving the registration list from Vietnam, China will conduct online or in-person inspections of the farms and publish on the website of the General Administration of Customs of China the list of Vietnamese export packaging facilities and farms permitted to export to China.
Thus, it can be seen that the obstacle in exporting spiny lobster to China is the issue of protecting rare and endangered animals and the procedures (of both importers and exporters) to prove that the farming process (from breeding stock) meets this requirement, NAFIQPM emphasized.
Previously, from August until now, the export of live spiny lobsters to China has been disrupted for unknown reasons. Large quantities of lobsters remain at farms awaiting sale, and the sharp drop in prices has caused difficulties for businesses and farmers.
(Source: Vietnamnet)
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