THE RATIO OF GLAZING PANGASIUS FILLETS FOR EXPORT IS 20%
17/04/2017

The ratio of glazing pangasius fillets for export is 20%
After nearly 27 months of debate between seafood businesses and the relevant agencies on the ice-to-fish ratio, this issue could be finally closed with national standards of 20% glazing ratio on the frozen pangasius fillets for export.

Workers in a local fish-processing plant for export.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued Circular 07/2017/TT-BNNPTNT, which provides regulations and standards for frozen Pangasius fillets. Accordingly, the rate of ice glazing and moisture content of Pangasius fillets is not greater than 20% and 86% of the net weight of the product.
Thus, the ministry has raised the ice and moisture content in the new circular compared to the respective ratios of 10% and 83% provided in the Government’s Decree 36/2014/ND-CP issued on April 29, 2014. The decree came into force on June 20 in the same year, except for the ice ratio rule which took effect on January 1, 2015.
However, before the ice ratio rule in Article 6 of Decree 36 entered into force, seafood firms voiced disagreement with the maximum ice and moisture ratios of 10% and 83% and triggered debate with relevant agencies.
Due to the persistent pressure from seafood enterprises, the ministry postponed the rule on ice and moisture contents in pangasius fish fillets (stated in Article 6) for another year, which means until the end of 2015 did the law become effective.
However, seafood exporters again called for a delay of the rule throughout 2018 as an agreement on the ice ratio in pangasius fillets for export had not been reached by the parties concerned.
The ministry made concessions and then signaled at some meetings that the ice and moisture ratios would be changed to prevent the enforcement of the rule from further delays.
Finally, after consideration, the ministry issued the Circular 07 setting the maximum ice and moisture ratios at 20% (instead of 10% as the original) and 86% (instead of 83%) respectively.
Circular 07 will be effective from May 5, 2017.

By Ngoc Hung (thesaigontimes.vn)