Directive No. 18/1998/CT-TTg On Prohibiting the Addition of Impurities to Aquatic Product Raw Materials

 DIRECTIVE

ON PROHIBITING THE INSERTION OF FOREIGN MATERIALS INTO SEAFOOD RAW MATERIALS

Recently, in some localities, particularly in southern provinces, the deliberate insertion of various types of foreign materials such as iron nails, bamboo sticks, coconut fibers, water pumps, or agar, etc. (collectively referred to as foreign materials) into shrimp and other seafood to increase their weight for sale to processing facilities for illicit profit has been occurring openly and increasingly becoming widespread. The Ministry of Fisheries and many localities have issued strict prohibitions and implemented numerous measures to prevent this, but the situation of violations continues to escalate. Some seafood processing enterprises, driven by profit, still purchase these raw materials for processing, selling them on the domestic market and exporting them, which negatively impacts production, business operations, and consumption. This is fraudulent behavior that degrades product quality, not only causing public outrage and dissatisfaction but also damaging the reputation of our country's exported seafood in the international market.

To end this situation, the Prime Minister issues the following directive:

1\. Strictly prohibit the insertion of foreign materials into seafood raw materials. All activities involving the insertion of foreign materials into seafood raw materials, trading, circulation on the market, and using raw materials containing foreign materials for food processing and export shall be subject to administrative penalties or criminal prosecution depending on the severity of the violation.

2\. Seafood processing facilities, state agencies, and individuals tasked with inspecting the quality of exported seafood must enhance their responsibility in inspection, control, procurement of shrimp and other raw materials, refrain from purchasing or colluding with unscrupulous traders to buy raw materials containing foreign materials for processing; they must not export or sell on the domestic market batches of goods contaminated with foreign materials, and if damage results from intentional acts or negligence, those responsible for procurement and inspection will also be held accountable under the law.

3\. Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities are responsible for directing all levels and sectors within their jurisdictions to cooperate with central inspection forces to strengthen inspections of seafood traders, processing facilities, and businesses (including central enterprises operating in their areas) regarding the trading and processing of seafood containing foreign materials, and strictly handle violations according to current laws; mobilize the people to denounce and report fraudulent acts of inserting foreign materials into seafood raw materials and using contaminated raw materials for food processing and export.

4\. Ministries of Fisheries, Home Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment, and Commerce are directed to instruct quality management agencies and specialized inspection forces to collaborate with localities to intensify inspection and control measures, especially at border gates and large production and business establishments, ensuring that seafood raw materials containing foreign materials are not allowed to be processed and sold on the domestic market or exported.

This Directive takes effect from the date of issuance. The Ministry of Fisheries shall lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to guide implementation and periodically report to the Prime Minister.

Ministers of Fisheries, Justice, Home Affairs, Trade, Science, Technology and Environment, heads of relevant ministries and sectors, and Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities are responsible for enforcing this Directive.