US loosens labelling requirements for tra fish imports

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has moved to loosen restrictions placed on the labelling requirements of aquatic products, including tra fish and white-flesh fish, according to the Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

The efforts to ease these restrictions comes following shops and restaurants throughout the United States being forced to close as a result of the effects of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Subsequently, the US Food Safety and Inspection Service under the USDA made the decision to issue new regulations to ease labelling requirements for meat, poultry, and aquatic products, including tra and white-flesh fish, with the latest policy poised to come into force within the next 60 days.

This follows a period during the opening months of the year when Vietnam encountered challenges in exporting tra fish, also known as pangasius, to the US market.

Figures indicate this trend as the first two months of the year saw pangasius exports to the US market reach US$38.6 million, a year-on-year drop of approximately 27%.

With the easing of restrictions, tra fish and white-flesh fish exporters are turning their attentions to the US retail market in an attempt to increase exports in the near future.