Alan Pham | Vietnam Seafood Sourcing Insights A sourcing consultant's notes on Vietnam's seafood market
Marine fish skin for gelatin and collagen production is a specialist market — and certification matters more than almost anything else. MSC, EU plant approval, per-lot antibiotic testing, full traceability to the fishing vessel. Buyers in the pharmaceutical and food gelatin space don’t compromise on any of these.
This post covers frozen MSC Cod Skins and MSC Haddock Skins processed at an EU-approved facility in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam — with real quality specifications and compliance documentation.
Two Products, One Certified Facility
| Frozen MSC Cod Skins | Frozen MSC Haddock Skins | |
|---|---|---|
| Species | Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) | Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) |
| Certification | MSC Chain of Custody | MSC Chain of Custody |
| Origin | Wild-caught North Atlantic | Wild-caught North Atlantic |
| Processed in | Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam | Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam |
| EU Approval | EU-approved export facility | EU-approved export facility |
| End use | Gelatin / collagen for human consumption | Gelatin / collagen for human consumption |
| Incoterms | FOB Ho Chi Minh City | FOB Ho Chi Minh City |
Why MSC Certification Matters for Fish Skin
For buyers producing pharmaceutical-grade or food-grade gelatin and collagen, MSC certification on the raw material has become increasingly non-negotiable — particularly for EU retail and regulated applications. It means:
- The fish comes from an MSC-certified sustainable fishery
- Chain of Custody (CoC) is maintained through every processing step
- The finished product can carry the MSC ecolabel if required by the buyer
- Full upstream traceability — from fishing vessel to finished block — is documented
- Non-GMO compliance maintained per EU Directive 2001/18/EC
The processing facility holds an active MSC Chain of Custody certificate. The “Product of Vietnam” origin label does not break the chain — MSC status is fully preserved through the Vietnam processing step.
Quality Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Scales | None — zero tolerance |
| Meat on skin | None — zero tolerance |
| Fins | None — zero tolerance |
| Minimum piece size | ≥ 10 × 10 cm |
| Block weight | 7 kg NET |
| Glazing | 0% (no glazing) |
| Ice content | Maximum 5% |
| Dry matter content | Minimum 30% |
| Water content | Maximum 5% |
| Colour | No oxidation — no yellow or orange discolouration |
| Storage temperature | -18°C continuous, monitored 24h/day |
The zero-tolerance policy on scales, meat, and fins is enforced through visual inspection at the processing line. Pieces smaller than 10×10 cm are rejected — a standard set by EU gelatin manufacturers that ensures consistent extraction yield.
Antibiotic & Contaminant Testing — Per Lot
Every shipment includes drug residue test results covering four parameters required by EU Commission Decision 2002/657/EC:
| Test Parameter | Required Result |
|---|---|
| Nitrofuran metabolites | Not detected (<1 µg/kg) |
| Malachite green | Not detected |
| Chloramphenicol | Not detected |
| Leucomalachite green | Not detected |
Per-lot testing — not periodic sampling — is standard for this facility and included in every shipment documentation package.
Certifications & Regulatory Compliance
| EU Plant Approval | EU-authorised facility for seafood export for human consumption |
| MSC Chain of Custody | Active — product eligible for MSC ecolabel |
| BRC Certification | British Retail Consortium food safety standard |
| HACCP | Full HACCP plan with identified CCPs |
| Non-GMO | Compliant with EU Directive 2001/18/EC |
| EU Regulations | EC 853/2004, EC 2074/2005, EC 1664/2006, EU 37/2010 |
Traceability: Full Chain to Fishing Vessel
The facility maintains full upstream traceability — from the finished frozen block back to the fishing vessel that caught the raw material. Complete traceability records can be retrieved within 4 hours of a buyer’s request, meeting the requirements of EU gelatin and collagen manufacturers and verified annually through internal traceability exercises.
Export Documentation Package
- Veterinary Health Certificate (1 original + 2 certified copies)
- Certificate of Origin
- Bill of Lading (1 original + 2 copies)
- Drug residue test report — nitrofuran, malachite green, chloramphenicol, leucomalachite per lot
- MSC Chain of Custody certificate
- Pallet heat treatment certificate (IPPC/FAO ISPM 15)
What Is This Product Used For?
- Marine gelatin production — pharmaceutical capsules, food-grade gelatin, confectionery
- Marine collagen extraction — cosmetics, nutraceuticals, functional food supplements
- Halal and Kosher gelatin — marine gelatin as a certified alternative to porcine for regulated markets
Atlantic cod and haddock are specifically preferred by European gelatin manufacturers for high collagen yield and neutral flavour profile. Both species are explicitly accepted under EU gelatin raw material regulations (EC 853/2004, Annex III, Section XIV).
How to Source This Product
I’m Alan Pham — Vietnam-based seafood sourcing consultant, formerly Operations Manager at A. Espersen A/S, one of Europe’s largest whitefish processors. I spent 10 years working with EU-specification whitefish products before establishing my own buyer-side sourcing practice.
I work directly with the processing facility and can provide:
- Current MSC Chain of Custody certificate and scope documentation
- BRC certificate
- Production lot CoA and per-lot drug test results
- FOB Ho Chi Minh City pricing based on volume and product
- Sample arrangement for qualified buyers
- Full export documentation support
If you are a gelatin or collagen manufacturer currently sourcing cod or haddock skin from Iceland, Norway, or the Faroe Islands and want to evaluate a Vietnam-processed, EU-compliant alternative — or if you are new to this material and need a verified, certified supply — reach out directly.
📧 alan@viet.zone
🔗 linkedin.com/in/vietpham8
Independent Seafood Sourcing Consultant based in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. Former Operations Manager at Espersen Vietnam (Danish seafood group, 8+ years) and graduate of Nha Trang Fisheries University. I source specialty aquatic products for buyers in Japan, France, Hong Kong, China and Thailand — as a disclosed agent with full commission transparency.
