Canada → Vietnam: regained access for chilled and frozen finfish fillets and steaks
Sources read 25 October 2026 · CFIA announcement June 2026 · English
Since CFIA's June 2026 announcement, Vietnam accepts a Canadian health certificate (AQAH-1112) for eviscerated chilled and frozen finfish fillets and steaks from species susceptible to WOAH-listed diseases in waters Canada declares infected — for example farmed Atlantic salmon, wild and farmed Pacific salmon and wild herring. These products had been restricted since 2022. This confirms country-level access only: each shipment still needs an eligible Canadian establishment, the right certificates and a Vietnamese importer, and FishMatch has not verified demand for any specific product.
What is confirmed — and what is not
Confirmed access
Confirmed by CFIA
Vietnam accepted a Canadian health certificate, restoring exports of chilled/frozen finfish fillets and steaks restricted since 2022. The CFIA requirements page lists the eligible product groups below.
Supplier eligibility
Check per supplier
The final processing establishment must be licensed under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, appear on CFIA's approved-for-export list and — for non-live products that are not processed and pre-packaged — on Vietnam's DAHP list. CFIA notes DAHP approval times are “often lengthy and unpredictable”.
Buyer demand
Not verified
CFIA reports Canadian fish and seafood exports to Vietnam of about $93 million in 2025 (currency not stated in the release). That is an all-product total; it does not show demand for fillets, for a species or for any buyer.
Eligible products (CFIA)
- Non-live, wild or farmed, eviscerated finfish fillets and steaks from susceptible species harvested in waters declared infected with WOAH-listed diseases (CFIA examples: farmed Atlantic salmon, wild and farmed Pacific salmon, wild herring). AQAH-1112 covers fillets and steaks “prepared and packaged for retail trade for human consumption”.
- Non-live wild and farmed finfish of non-susceptible species, or of susceptible species from waters declared free of WOAH-listed finfish diseases.
- All non-live wild and farmed crustaceans and molluscs.
- Live Pacific oyster, Dungeness crab, American lobster and geoduck clam from Canadian waters, when authorised by Vietnamese authorities.
- Non-live fish of any species declared for re-processing in Vietnam and re-export to a third country; salted and frozen Pacific herring roe (HS 030520).
Not eligible or handled separately
- Live and non-live products that do not meet the criteria above — for example whole, non-eviscerated susceptible finfish from waters declared infected.
- Encapsulated fish oils follow separate food-supplement rules in Vietnam; the fish and seafood requirements do not apply to them.
[source] Eligibility depends on species, harvest area and form — confirm the exact product with CFIA before contracting.
Product-specific documents
| Product | Certificates listed by CFIA |
|---|---|
| Chilled/frozen eviscerated fillets and steaks of susceptible species from infected-declared waters | Certificate of Origin and Hygiene (CFIA/ACIA 5003) + Aquatic animal health and sanitary certificate for chilled/frozen fish fillets and steaks (AQAH-1112) |
| Other non-live wild or farmed fish (non-susceptible species, or from disease-free waters) | CFIA/ACIA 5003 + Sanitary Certificate for fish and fishery products (CFIA/ACIA 5633) |
| Salted and frozen Pacific herring roe (HS 030520) | CFIA/ACIA 5003 |
| Live aquatic animals for human consumption | CFIA/ACIA 5003 + Aquatic Animal Health Certificate (AQAH-1025), plus copies of the Vietnamese import permits (except Pacific oyster) |
| Re-processing in Vietnam and re-export (non-EU / EU-rule markets) | CFIA/ACIA 5003 with the re-export statement; for EU-rule markets also the additional attestations form CFIA/ACIA FA1023 |
Supplier eligibility checks
General guidance, not legal advice. Our team checks these documents for each supplier before any introduction.
- Confirm the exact species, harvest area and product form with the supplier's local CFIA office before contracting — CFIA recommends checking eligibility before an establishment applies. [source]
- Non-live products: only the final processing establishment must be approved and appear on Vietnam's DAHP list. CFIA's current (unofficial) understanding is that processed and pre-packaged, properly labelled products, and products declared for further processing and re-export, do not need the listing — confirm with your importer or the Canadian embassy. [source]
- Live lobster, Dungeness crab and geoduck: the importer and exporter must obtain a specialised import permit from Vietnam's Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance (MAE), typically valid 1 year. All live species also need an import quarantine permit from DAHP, typically valid 3 months. Live Pacific oyster needs no specialised permit. [source]
- Declare the intended use (local consumption or re-processing and re-export) before the certificate is requested — the documents differ. For re-export to the EU, the establishment must also be on the EU list. [source]
Temperature, handling and logistics checks
- Chilled product: Codex advises that fresh fish, fillets and shellfish to be chilled “should be held at a temperature as close as possible to 0 °C”. Put the target and the allowed deviation in the contract. [source]
- Frozen product: Codex treats quick freezing as complete only when the product reaches “–18 °C or colder” at the thermal centre, and transport of frozen product should maintain –18 °C or colder. Ask for freezing method (IQF or block), glaze percentage and net-weight basis. [source]
- AQAH-1112 and AQAH-1025 must be validated, dated and issued while the product is still in Canada — product already shipped cannot be certified. Build the certificate request into the loading schedule. [source]
- Vietnam requires imported food to be pre-packed and labelled to its import rules (CFIA). Agree retail packaging and Vietnamese labelling with the importer before production. [source]
- Ask for continuous temperature records (reefer or data-logger download) from loading to delivery, and agree the receiving inspection and rejection criteria before the first shipment.
Logistics
- State whether product is chilled (air freight is usual for short shelf life) or frozen (reefer container) and the destination port or airport, so offers are priced on the same basis.
- For live lobster, crab, geoduck or oysters, confirm both Vietnamese permits are issued before booking — CFIA needs copies before it certifies. [source]
- Ask who handles customs clearance and cold storage on arrival, and whether any transhipment point is involved.
No transit times or freight rates are given here; they depend on route and carrier and are quoted per request.
Reported market context
- Canadian fish and seafood exports to Vietnam: about $93 million in 2025, “with demand continuing to grow” (CFIA wording; currency not stated, all products combined). [source]
- The restored access applies to products restricted since 2022, when Vietnam introduced new aquatic animal health requirements. [source]
- FishMatch has no verified buyer demand or price data for Canadian fillets in Vietnam. Treat demand as a hypothesis to test with real requests.
What to put in your request
Each of these is a field in the seafood request form, so offers from different suppliers can be compared line by line.
- Species
- Common and scientific name (e.g. Salmo salar), farmed or wild — the certificate depends on it.
- Form
- Eviscerated fillet or steak, skin on/off, pin-bone, trim; chilled or frozen; retail pack or bulk.
- Size
- Fillet or steak weight range, or portion size.
- Volume
- Per shipment and frequency.
- Origin
- Canada, and the province or harvest/farming area if it matters to you.
- Delivery window
- First delivery month and how long the programme runs.
- Destination
- Vietnam, port or airport, and whether product is for local sale or re-processing and re-export.
- Documentation
- CFIA/ACIA 5003 + AQAH-1112 for susceptible-species fillets/steaks; DAHP listing where required; labels.
- Payment and finance
- Payment terms preference (e.g. L/C, cash against documents) and any trade-finance need — optional, recorded for review only.
Trade lane readiness check: Canada → Vietnam
Tick what is already settled. Open items become notes in your request, so our team knows what still needs checking. Ticks stay in this browser.
Market access is official; exporter eligibility is checked per supplier and shipment; buyer demand exists only as a real request.
0 of 22 settled
The form opens with the origin, destination and your open items filled in. Nothing is sent until you submit.
How introductions work
- You send a buyer request (free).
- We qualify it: complete specification, destination access confirmed, programme of USD 250,000 or more.
- We check supplier eligibility documents for the exact product and lane.
- You receive a structured, anonymous comparison of eligible offers.
- Introductions happen only after qualification and with both sides' agreement. Contact details are never shown before that, and no deal is guaranteed.
Request a private sourcing review
Free for buyers, for annual or seasonal programmes of USD 250,000 or more. The form opens with Canada and Vietnam filled in; you add species, form, size, volume, delivery window and documents. You can also state payment terms and any payment or trade-finance need. Our team qualifies every request and checks supplier eligibility before any structured introduction; contact details stay private until then. No supply, price, eligibility or clearance guarantees.
Canadian producer or exporter? Apply as a producer — applications are reviewed privately and never listed publicly.
Questions buyers ask
- Can Canadian salmon fillets be exported to Vietnam again?
- Yes, according to CFIA. Vietnam accepted a Canadian health certificate (AQAH-1112) for eviscerated chilled and frozen finfish fillets and steaks, restoring access restricted since 2022. Farmed Atlantic salmon and wild and farmed Pacific salmon are among CFIA's examples. Each establishment and shipment must still meet the listing and certificate rules.
- Which documents go with Canadian fillets and steaks to Vietnam?
- CFIA lists the Certificate of Origin and Hygiene (CFIA/ACIA 5003) plus AQAH-1112 for fillets and steaks of susceptible species from waters declared infected. AQAH-1112 must be issued while the product is still in Canada.
- Does the Canadian processing plant need to be listed in Vietnam?
- For non-live products, the final processing establishment must be on Vietnam's DAHP list, unless the product is processed and pre-packaged with proper labels or declared for re-processing and re-export. CFIA says this is its unofficial understanding and that DAHP approvals can take a long and unpredictable time.
- Is whole salmon included in the regained access?
- The regained access is for eviscerated fillets and steaks of susceptible species from infected-declared waters. Whole fish of those species from such waters is not on CFIA's eligible list; confirm any other form with CFIA before contracting.
- Does FishMatch know Vietnamese buyers or Canadian suppliers for this?
- FishMatch does not publish buyers or suppliers and has not verified demand. Buyers send a free request; our team reviews it, checks supplier eligibility documents and introduces suppliers only after review. FishMatch reviews programmes of USD 250,000 or more per year or season; the buyer service is free.
Sources
- CFIA news release — Government of Canada secures new and expanded market access for Canadian fish, seafood and aquatic products — page modified 8 June 2026
- CFIA — Vietnam: export requirements for fish and seafood — page modified 11 June 2026
- CFIA — Aquatic animal export: certification requirements for Vietnam — page modified 15 January 2026
- CFIA — Canadian fish and seafood establishments approved for export — live list
- Codex CXC 52-2003 — Code of Practice for Fish and Fishery Products — current edition
Rules change. Confirm current requirements with CFIA, the destination authority and your customs broker before each shipment.