GAA signs MoU with VNPA

The two organisations will collaboratively work to advance responsible aquaculture in the pangasius sector in Vietnam and globally through the exchange of information and research.

GAA and VNPA agreed to the MoU after January meetings in Can Tho and Hanoi.

In the MoU, VNPA agreed to help identify and enroll processing plants, farms, feed mills and hatcheries in the BAP third-party certification program to increase the number of BAP-certified facilities in Vietnam. VNPA will also enlist GAA’s assistance and expertise in its efforts of implementing good aquaculture practice standards in Vietnam regarding food safety, environment responsibility, social responsibility and animal welfare.

In return, GAA agreed to help identify market endorsers to further promote responsibly produced Vietnamese farmed pangasius products to retailers and foodservice operators worldwide. GAA also agreed to offer training and seminars to help Vietnamese producers to be able to apply VietGAP and the BAP standards to improve their aquaculture practices.

“We are delighted to formalise our relationship with VNPA through this MoU,” said Carson Roper, international business development manager for GAA’s Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) division.

“We are looking forward to working together with VNPA to advance responsible practices not only in the farming of pangasius through VietGAP as a stepping stone to BAP certification, but also through the incorporation of responsible practices at the hatchery level and through responsible feed. We are also looking forward to assisting in the development of stronger market ties for BAP-certified pangasius.”