(VOVworld) - Mexico has decided to stop importing shrimp in all forms from Vietnam following the outbreak of the early mortality syndrome, EMS, in order to protect domestic shrimp farming.

Mexico has nearly 1,400 shrimp farms on a total of more than 71,000ha. Last year, it harvested nearly 100,000 tons, mostly for domestic use. (Photo: Dinh Hue/VNA) )

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has sent a dispatch to the Mexican Embassy to call on them to cancel the decision. Nguyen Huu Dung, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, said “Mexico’s ban on importing Vietnam’s frozen shrimp, blaming it for containing EMS, is groundless. Scientists have proven that frozen shrimp cannot spread the disease to the host country’s shrimp. The move has caused concerns among other importers of Vietnamese seafood products.”

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and World Organization for Animal Health, EMS is caused by Vibrio paraharmolyticus and frozen and thawed shrimp are unable to spread the disease to living ones.