Israel reaches consensus on Viet Nam’s proposed scientific name for red tilapia

According to the Viet Nam Trade Office in Israel, on March 1, 2026, the office forwarded an official letter from the Israeli Ministry of Health’s Food Safety Authority to the National Authority for Agro-Forestry-Fishery Quality, Processing, and Market Development (NAFIQPM) under Viet Nam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, confirming its acceptance of the scientific name for red tilapia as proposed by Viet Nam.

This approval is considered an exception in the application of Israeli legal regulations, aimed at facilitating the export of red tilapia from Viet Nam to Israel.

According to the Israeli Ministry of Health, the scientific name of red tilapia must be clearly indicated on export certificates for each shipment exported to Israel.

The Viet Nam Trade Office in Israel assessed that this move has helped remove obstacles, open the market, and create favorable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to seize opportunities and boost exports of red tilapia to Israel. It also significantly strengthens bilateral seafood trade cooperation between the two countries following the easing of tensions in the Middle East.

Viet Nam’s exports of tilapia, including red tilapia, have been growing strongly. According to the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in January this year, the country’s tilapia exports reached USD 15 million, a sharp increase of 334% compared to the same period in 2025.