Market management: 'Selling frozen crayfish can also be punished'
The leader of the General Department of Market Management said that, depending on the nature of the case, it is still possible to recover and handle the sale of frozen crayfish.
The General Department of Market Management has sent an urgent dispatch requesting inspections of supermarkets, seafood stores, restaurants, and hotels in major cities. However, many restaurant and online store owners still believe that only live crayfish are banned from being sold, while frozen crayfish are not affected, so they still put this dish on the menu.
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Dish made from crayfish at a restaurant. |
Sharing with reporters, Mr. Tran Huu Linh - General Director of the General Department of Market Management said that this inspection does not exclude handling frozen crayfish.
Crayfish are a group of alien species that destroy crops, often dig burrows, and damage dikes. Because they are omnivorous, crayfish have the ability to adapt well to the environment, leading to the spread of fungal diseases, white spot disease in shrimp, and some parasites. Since 2011, this species of shrimp has been included in the list of alien species banned from import and development.
"Frozen crayfish imported by restaurants for processing may also be considered for handling, depending on the nature of each case," said Mr. Linh.
According to him, the business and consumption of crayfish is determined to be a violation of regulations on biodiversity and aquatic products. According to Decree 155/2018, the act of raising, keeping, planting, or propagating invasive alien species outside the conservation area for commercial purposes will be handled.
"The determination and proof of administrative violations are based on many factors and details of the case in reality. The use of this type of shrimp as raw material for food production and processing can be handled according to the provisions of Article 4 of Decree 155/2018," he added.
According to Mr. Linh, the inspection process of the market management force in the localities is being carried out urgently. He promised to announce the details when the results are summarized in the next few days.
Currently in Vietnam, only the Aquaculture Research Institute I is licensed to import this species of shrimp for research. Mr. Nguyen Quang Huy, Deputy Director of the institute, said that restaurants and eateries importing frozen crayfish for processing must still prove their origin and must be permitted by customs and the Vietnam Department of Animal Health. On the contrary, those who smuggle them illegally without inspection will still be punished according to regulations, whether the crayfish is alive or dead.