The Federation will compare ThaiGAP, VietGAP and other nation standards for shrimp and then request the governments to join the ThaiGAP, VietGAP and other standards into one standard for ASEAN with the help from ASEAN and buyers.
ASF members currently supply more than half of the world’s shrimp culture production, according to Mr. Athon Piboonthanapatana, General Secretary of Thai Frozen Foods Association (TFFA).
However, the regional producers face a ‘jungle’ of certifications, Dr Nguyen Huu Dung, Vice President of VASEP cum Chairman of ASF said.
“Therefore, we support any initiative that helps us reduce the number of certification, especially the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI),” said Dung.
ASF will hold its first seafood show in 2015, either in Thailand, Indonesia or Viet Nam in concurrent with the local seafood show (Thaifex, Vietfish, and Interfood). The host of the show will be rotated among the three member countries.
Apart from its own seafood show, ASF members will get together at the main seafood exhibitions in the world, including European Seafood Exposition, International Boston Seafood Show, and Japan International Seafood & Technology Expo.
Currently, a bi-weekly newsletter is circulated among ASF members to boost the information exchange. The Federation is looking to publish a quarterly magazine and a website with information contributed from each member.
“I think the meeting is very productive. However, to further engage with the government of ASEAN, ASF should engage more deeply with the SEAFDEC Council and the ASEAN Secretariat,” said Mr. Timothy Moore of ASEAN-US MARKET Project (abbreviation of Maximizing Agricultural Revenue through Knowledge, Enterprise Development, and Trade).
According to Mr. Moore, MARKET is ready to explore potential areas of support and collaboration with the Federation, including the provision of expertise to the ASF meetings.
ASF, which was established in 2009, has seven member countries, including Brunei (BAPA), the Philippines (FFSAP and SFFAII), Indonesia (AP5I), Malaysia (MFFPA), Myanmar (MPEA), Thailand (TFFA) and Viet Nam (VASEP). The Federation seeks to add 6 dialogue partners of ASEAN India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand) to become its associated members. Its membership is also open to other seafood associations in each member country.