Almost out of time, how is EC’s "yellow card" being removed?

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development expects the "yellow card" to be removed in April. Picture: Ha Phuong.

Working with the EC in March

On 23th October, 2017, the EC announced a warning “yellow card” for Vietnam's seafood export products to the European Union market. At the same time, the EC made nine recommendations that Vietnam should implement immediately within 6 months (from 23th October, 2017 to 23th April, 2018).

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Dung (Director General of Department of Science, Technology and International Cooperation, General Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), in recent years, to prevent and combat IUU exploitation, a series of urgent solutions are focused on reviewing and promulgating regulations on anti-exploitation activities concerning IUUs in legal documents. This required dissemination of information on urgent solutions against IUU exploitation to fishing communities and other stakeholders; Conducting dialogue with the EU, updating the progress that Viet Nam has been undertaking to improve fisheries management towards responsible fishery practices.

Specifically, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the General Department of Fisheries have instructed the fishery inspectorate to intensify patrolling and surveillance against IUU exploitation, focusing on the Gulf of Tonkin, South West (bordering Thailand, Cambodia), and the waters bordering Indonesia, Malaysia etc.

In addition, MARD also requested the local authorities to tighten inspection at ports, ensuring 20% of the yield on landing for tuna, and 5% of yield on landing for other species. To ensure that fishing vessels have not yet been granted fishing permits, they must not let them go offshore and not let fishing ships of the provinces violate the illegal fishing areas.

In addition, according to the guidance of MARD, localities have strengthened penalties in the highest penalty bracket for ship owners and captains by conducting investigations and handling criminal cases involving brokers who take ships to exploit marine products in foreign waters.

According to Ms. Dung, in the framework of the bilateral and multilateral cooperation program, MARD has also held talks with the Philippines, Thailand, Brunei etc., to share and learn experiences against IUU exploitation, and make a general commitment to continue to closely cooperate in the fight against IUU fishing and to consider signing up to hotlines for promoting fisheries cooperation.

"Over time, MARD has actively periodically exchanged between the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and the EU ambassador in Hanoi on the implementation of Vietnam's activities against IUU. In March, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development will meet with the EC’s Directorate General for Fisheries and Aquaculture on IUU exploitation", Ms. Dung said.

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), the Government, MARD, localities and communities of fisheries enterprises have clearly identified this warning. It is important to overcome the warnings issued by the EC in order to ensure responsible fishing. Following the direction of the Prime Minister, many provinces have issued measures to deal with the IUU. Quang Binh province is implementing a plan to inspect 100% of export/import fishing vessels as recommended by the EC. Accordingly, 100% of fishing vessels will be checked for documents, in fact, for when the ships depart, with an emphasis on trawlers and ships with suspicion of catching seafood in foreign waters; 100% of fishing vessels will be inspected, monitored and declared at Gianh river, Nhat Le river ports; inspecting at fishing ports at least 20% of the yield on landing for tuna; 5% of the yield on harbors for other catches as recommended by the EC in conjunction with the inspection, detection, prevention and handling of offenses at sea.

Following many directives, on 16th January, the Prime Minister issued a decision approving the National Action Plan to prevent, reduce and eliminate IUU fishing to 2025. The objective of the plan is to prevent the elimination of IUU fishing activities by Vietnamese and foreign organizations and individuals in Vietnamese waters; promote sustainable and responsible fisheries development, contribute to national security, regional and international integration; to terminate the situation of fishing ships and Vietnamese fishermen illegally exploiting marine products in the sea areas of other countries.

On 26th January, 2018, VASEP sent an official letter to the General Department of Fisheries to report that the EU is enhancing the verification of C/C IUU certification of Vietnamese seafood imported into the EU in the context of "yellow card". At the same time, VASEP has nominated a specific representative to participate in the IUU Working Group of MARD. VASEP would like to share information and coordinate the initial processing of EU verification requests via the IUU Vietnam email gateway.

On February 1st, 2018, seafood companies in the VASEP's anti-exploiting IUU Commitment program simultaneously suspended the commitment (at the gate of the plant) against IUU exploitation, committed not to purchase, process and export from raw materials originating from IUU fishing. Following this effect, VASEP has proposed that MARD issue a guiding document to the provinces and the General Department of Fisheries on anti-exploiting IUU propaganda and communication activities.

Effort to remove the "yellow card"

VASEP has proposed that the General Department of Fisheries in collaboration with VASEP organize a mid-term review meeting on the implementation of the tasks and activities to overcome the "yellow card", to assess the shortcomings and inadequacies. The Ministry and the General Department shall promptly direct plans, including one of the important contents, which is announced in Circular No. 02/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated January 31st with many adjusted, supplemented, amended contents.

At the same time, VASEP proposed some priority actions to be implemented in March 2018, including: A representative of IUU VASEP Executive Board to join the MARD mission to work with IUU in relation to the issue of "yellow card" and with Korea is scheduled to be deployed; VASEP actively coordinates with the General Department on the translation and revision of the language (English) in reports or legal documents to timely resolve the related words during the "yellow card" period.

"Vietnam is urgently dismantling 'yellow card' conditions in the quickest time. MARD's working group is working with Kien Giang and Ca Mau provinces to further strengthen IUU implementation. Efforts to remove the EC’s 'yellow card', the EC requires the cooperation, coordination between agencies, local", Ms. Dung said.

With regard to this issue, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan said: "Vietnam is trying to remove the "yellow card" in April/2018 or if a few months later, as soon as possible. In particular, the most important issue is the direction, propaganda and determination for raising awareness of fishermen not to fish illegally. In addition, the measure is to promote monitoring, navigational control, sanctions, even seafarers' permits, and banning time off the sea. "

According to Vice Minister Ha Cong Tuan, in the future, not only in the fisheries sector but with other commodities, the agricultural sector aims to ensure traceability and production in accordance with the law.