Viet Nam takes important step towards its first 'green label' marine fishmeal

In the livestock and aquaculture value chain, marine fishmeal is considered a "golden" ingredient. With a relatively high protein content (40 - 80%) and rich in essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, it helps animals grow rapidly, improves immunity, and optimizes the feed conversion ratio.

However, as climate change, environmental pollution, and overfishing deplete marine resources, the global fishmeal industry is forced to transform. Major markets no longer accept "untraceable" raw materials, demanding traceability, transparency, and accountability instead. Concepts like "red label" and "yellow label" are gradually being replaced by the "green label" - a symbol of a sustainable supply chain.

The establishment of the MarinTrust standard (formerly IFFO RS) in 2009 marked a crucial turning point. Beyond controlling raw material inputs, this standard encompasses anti-IUU fishing factors, ecosystem protection and social responsibility throughout the production chain. With Version 3.0, effective as of 2024, the requirements have been raised to their highest level ever.

According to Mr. Dinh Xuan Lap, Deputy Director of the International Collaborating Center for Aquaculture and Fisheries Sustainability (ICAFIS) under the Viet Nam Fisheries Society, market trends are pressuring businesses to adapt.

"Major international buyers like Walmart, Aeon, or Metro set very high sustainability standards. Certifications like BAP, GlobalGAP, or ASC require a large proportion of fishmeal to be certified or sourced from Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs). This is no longer an option, but a mandatory condition to join the global supply chain, " Mr. Lap emphasized.

Recognizing this trend early, the Ba Ria - Vung Tau Fishmeal and Fish Oil Association initiated a Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) in 2015, involving enterprises, fishing vessels, and stakeholders. After years of implementation, the Vung Tau FIP was recognized in February 2022 by MarinTrust as the first multi-species fishery program in Viet Nam to meet its requirements.

The FIP community didn't stop there; it further raised its goals for 2035, adding social responsibility elements alongside criteria for combating IUU fishing, protecting endangered species and complying with the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.

With the determination to "elevate Vietnamese seafood," Phuc Loc Vung Tau Co., Ltd. officially registered for the MarinTrust Standard 3.0 assessment in December 2025. After nearly four months of rigorous evaluation by SGS, the enterprise was granted Improver Programme acceptance on April 17, 2026..

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Loc noted that this journey was not easy: "To achieve MarinTrust Improver Programme acceptance, we had to control the entire chain, from fishing vessels and raw materials to the production process and traceability. The hardest part wasn't the technology, but changing the fishing habits and awareness of the fishermen".

Achieving Improver Programme acceptance for marine fishmeal helps the Vietnamese seafood industry as a whole open new market doors. "With a 'green label', Viet Nam's fishmeal products can enter premium supply chains, which were previously almost closed off due to IUU issues and a lack of certification. This is an opportunity to enhance value, not just increase output, " Mr. Loc added.

Since 2017, the European Union's IUU "yellow card" warning has created numerous export barriers for Vietnamese seafood. This impacts not only directly captured products but also ripples across the supply chain, including the fishmeal and fish oil industries.

In this context, "green label"- recognized products such as marine fishmeal demonstrate that Viet Nam is fully capable of building a transparent, responsible supply chain that meets the strictest international standards.