Vietnam Custom tightens fight against imports of banned crawfish

Thứ Sáu, 24/05/2019, 14:04
PSNews - The General Department of Vietnam Customs urged its sub-units to tighten inspections to prevent the import of banned red-claw crawfish into Vietnam.

The General Department of Vietnam Customs on May 23 issued a dispatch urged its sub-units to tighten inspections to prevent the import of banned red-claw crawfish into Vietnam.

Red-claw crawfish or crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus).

The move followed media reports that red-claw crawfish or crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) is being imported and sold as food in many localities in Vietnam.

Earlier, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has urged local authorities, the General Department of Vietnam Customs and the Market Watch General Department to tighten control over the trade and consumption of crawfish.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, crawfish is listed as a harmful invasive alien animal in Vietnam, which harms the country’s agricultural production. Crawfish is not on the list of aquaculture species eligible for trade in Vietnam, the ministry said.

Online stores are offering crayfish at prices of 350,000–500,000 VND (15-22 USD) per kilo. The crawfish are reportedly imported from China and the US.

Following the move, on May 22, the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has just issued Official Dispatch No. 1537 / SNN-CCTS on prohibiting the production and trading of invasive alien species in Hanoi city.

The department also urged its sub-units to focus on prevent the trade, stocking and transportation of these species. The relevant agencies were asked to seize and report cases of violation as soon as they detect any invasive alien species.


By Thien Minh