Technical Compilation of Traceability Systems for Aquaculture Products in the ASEAN Region, Japanese Trust Fund V: Traceability Systems for Aquaculture Products in the ASEAN Region 2010 – 2015

Abstract

Traceability has become a major concern of the aquaculture industry, especially since it has become a legitimate requirement in major international markets, such as the European Union (EU) and the United States of America (USA). Some countries in the ASEAN region which are major exporters of seafood have begun implementation of traceability systems for their aquaculture products such as Thailand (shrimps) and Viet Nam (catfish). However, with increasing requirements for traceability in the international seafood markets, there is an urgent need for all countries in the ASEAN region to implement traceability systems in their aquaculture industry so as to comply with the regulations of the importing countries. In addition, domestic consumers in the region who are becoming more affluent and educated also demand a higher level of food safety and quality in their seafood. In view of these developments, the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), under its Marine Fisheries Research Department (MFRD) Programmes, implemented a project on traceability for aquaculture products in the ASEAN region. This project serves to provide a platform for the sharing of information and experiences among the ASEAN member countries on traceability systems, to better enable their aquaculture industries to implement appropriate traceability systems in aquaculture products and to meet international traceability requirements in the network of aquaculture production, marketing, and trade.

I hope that this Technical Compilation, which is a major output of the project, would be a useful resource to policy makers, technologists, scientists as well as extension and regulatory personnel in the fisheries aquaculture sector. I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the fisheries officers in the Member Countries and the officers of the Post-Harvest Technology Center of the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore as the Collaborating Center for SEAFDEC / MFRD programmes for their hard work and effort in preparing this Technical Compilation. In addition, I would like to thank the Government of Japan for funding this project under the Japanese Trust Fund Program.