US regulatory agencies are increasing controls on imported seafood, focusing on antibiotic residues, compliance with HACCP food safety systems, and traceability requirements. Therefore, Vietnamese seafood businesses need to proactively tighten supply chain management to ensure quality and maintain market share in this market.

Increased import alert mechanisms have a significant impact on the shrimp industry.

According to the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Processing and Export (VASEP), since the beginning of March 2026, US regulatory agencies have continued to strengthen controls on imported seafood, particularly regarding food safety, traceability, and compliance with environmental regulations.

According to updates from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Import Alerts system continues to be used as an important tool for controlling seafood imports into the U.S. Notable seafood-related import alerts include those concerning businesses that do not comply with HACCP regulations or shipments at risk of contamination with pathogenic microorganisms.

These alerts apply a mechanism that allows the FDA to temporarily detain imported shipments at the port of entry without physical inspection. When a business or processing facility is placed on the Import Alert list, subsequent shipments from that entity may be held until the business provides evidence that the product fully meets FDA requirements.

This mechanism significantly increases costs and risks for exporting businesses, due to prolonged customs clearance times, increased warehousing costs, and the risk of losing orders.

According to recent FDA import control reports, shrimp is one of the most frequently rejected seafood products entering the US market. The main reason is the detection of prohibited antibiotic residues in the product. Commonly detected substances include: chloramphenicol; nitrofurans; and other banned antibiotics in aquaculture.

In addition to food safety requirements, the U.S. also maintains strict controls on the origin of imported seafood through the SIMP program administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The SIMP program requires importers to provide detailed information about: the origin of the catch or aquaculture, the fishing vessel, the fishing area, the supply chain, and transportation. This data must be declared and stored electronically through the U.S. Customs system. The program's goal is to prevent: illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing; trade fraud; and product origin fraud.

Another issue under scrutiny is the US regulations related to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Under this act, countries exporting harvested seafood to the US must demonstrate that their fishing practices meet marine animal protection standards equivalent to those of the US. If countries fail to meet this requirement, the US may impose restrictions or bans on the import of certain harvested seafood products. Groups at risk of being affected typically include: tuna; squid; and certain species of marine fish...

Proactively manage risks when exporting.

At the recent first quarter 2026 trade promotion meeting with Vietnamese trade offices abroad, Do Ngoc Hung, Head of the Vietnamese Trade Office in the US, stated that Vietnamese export goods will also face increasingly fierce competition in this market.

For example, in the seafood industry, businesses will face competition from major seafood exporting countries such as Canada, Chile, India, Ecuador, and Indonesia. Furthermore, consumer preferences in the US are shifting towards healthier, more nutritious, and convenient products, with high demands for sustainability, traceability, and transparency in the supply chain. Therefore, seafood businesses must improve their capabilities, not only in product quality but also in supply chain management systems, adhering to sustainability standards.
In the current context, VASEP Deputy Secretary General Le Hang believes that export businesses need to proactively review and improve management throughout the entire supply chain, from raw materials to processing and export.

Specifically, businesses must focus on strictly controlling antibiotic residues in raw materials, especially for farmed products such as shrimp – an item that is frequently subject to strict controls in the US market. At the same time, processing facilities need to fully comply with the HACCP food safety management system as required by the FDA.

Furthermore, ensuring clear traceability for each shipment is becoming increasingly important. Businesses need to monitor and stay updated on new regulations related to sustainable exploitation, environmental protection, and ecological conservation.

VASEP leaders emphasized that proactively improving compliance capabilities not only helps businesses minimize risks during the export process to the US market but also contributes to enhancing the reputation and competitiveness of Vietnamese seafood in the international market.

Source: People's Deputies Newspaper

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