Vietnamese shrimp have a wide open path to the Japanese market.

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (Vasep), on January 21, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare officially announced an increase in the residue limit of Ethoxyquin (an antioxidant used in shrimp feed production) in Vietnamese shrimp imported into Japan to 0.2 ppm (a 20-fold increase from the current level of 0.01 ppm).

Furthermore, Japan has also decided to lift the requirement for 100% inspection of shrimp imported from Vietnam for ETQ. With the easing of Ethoxyquin and ETQ barriers for Vietnamese shrimp, coupled with the high export prices to Japan due to scarce supply, this will increase both the value and volume of this export item in 2014.

Previously, on May 18, 2012, Japan implemented ETQ testing on 30% of shrimp shipments imported from Vietnam, with a residue limit of 0.01 ppm. Subsequently, Japan officially applied 100% ETQ testing to Vietnamese shrimp, causing a sharp decline in shrimp exports to this market. From the end of 2012 and throughout 2013, Japan further increased the Ethoxyquin testing to 100%, making shrimp exports to the country even more difficult.

Since Japan implemented ETQ (Ethical Therapeutic Goods Quality) inspection regulations, Vietnam's shrimp exports to this market only reached US$617.7 million in 2012. In 2013, Japan ranked second in importing Vietnamese shrimp after the United States.

According to rural economics