Hanoi, Viet Nam. Antimicrobials play a critical role to treat diseases for aquaculture and livestock, contributing to assure food safety and quality. However, misuse or overuse antimicrobials in aquaculture can be left in aqualtic products, in water and environment resulting in over and unintended exposure to antimicrobials which ultimately hinder the effectiveness of antimicrobials.

In Viet Nam, aquaculture has been developing very quickly in recent years with a total of 2 552 thousand tons of fish and 628.2 thousand tons of shrimps produced in 2015 (1), aquatic products account for a large volume of exported agricultural products. Previous studies have shown that antibiotics are extensively used in aquaculture (2). The lack of laboratory testing capacity has caused difficulties in detecting antimicrobial residues in aquatic products as well as new emerging resistant microorganism.

From 5-8 December 2017, the Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), FAO Viet Nam and the National Institute of Veterinary Research (NIVR) co-organised a regional training workshop on analysis of antimicrobial residues in Ha Noi. A total of 14 key laboratory staff from Vietnam, Bangladesh, Philippines, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand participated in the five day hand-on training. The workshop progamme included both class room sessions and a pilot field survey which allow trainees to gain experience in field sample collection for antimicrobial residue testing in tilapia production. The workshop is one of FAO regional capacity building activities aiming to enhance field and laboratory capacity for antimicrobial residue testing in aquatic products in Southeast Asia.

“Laboratory capacity to assess antimicrobial residue in aquatic products is critical for the implementation of Viet Nam National Action Plan on management of antibiotic and control of antibiotic resistance in aquaculture and livestock production and every countries’ effort to combat antimicrobial resistance. FAO will continue to support the government of Viet Nam and other countries to reduce the impact of antimicrobial resistance on health, livelihood and food security” stated by Pawin Padungtod, Senior Technical Coordinator, FAO Vietnam’s Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases.

(1)    Ministry of Planning and Investment report ”the results of agriculture production and rural development in 2015 and plans for social and economic development 2016”.
(2)    Quoc, P.L. et al., 2015. Characteristics of Extended-Spectrum beta-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli in Retail Meats and Shrimp at a Local Market in Vietnam. Foodborne Pathog. Dis. 12, 719–725.