Basa, Panga or Pangasius? A Labelling Guide for Fillet Importers

Most frozen fillets sold as basa, panga, pangasius or river cobbler in Europe come from one farmed species, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus. The true basa is a related fish, Pangasius bocourti. Which name you may print depends on the destination market, and the label must always carry the scientific name next to it.

Last updated: 11 November 2026. Written for purchasing, QA and category teams at importers, distributors and retailers in the UK, the EU and Latin America. For trim, size and packing, see our guide to buying frozen pangasius fillets.

Is basa the same fish as pangasius?

Not in taxonomy, but often in trade. The family Pangasiidae contains around 28 species. Two matter to buyers. Pangasianodon hypophthalmus, known in Vietnam as cá tra and in English as striped catfish, is the species that dominates farming. Seafish, the UK seafood industry body, states that it is the species imported into Europe and the UK. Pangasius bocourti, known in Vietnam as cá basa, is the original basa: a rounder, slower-growing fish farmed in much smaller volumes.

Industrial farming of P. hypophthalmus grew after commercial hatcheries developed in the mid-1990s, and global pangasius output reached about 2.4 million tonnes by 2012, according to Seafish. The name basa travelled with the trade, which is why many buyers still order basa fillets and receive striped catfish. That is lawful in some markets and not in others, so the name has to be checked against the destination, not assumed.

Which names are accepted in each market?

In the EU, each member state publishes its own list of commercial designations under Article 37 of Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013. The European Commission collects these lists in a public database. The UK keeps its own list. The table below shows names accepted for P. hypophthalmus, the species most importers buy.

Two points stand out. First, basa is not on the EU list for P. hypophthalmus in most member states. A German or Spanish retail pack that says basa for striped catfish risks a labelling finding. Second, lists change. Spain, for example, publishes new resolutions on its list several times a year. Check the current version before you print packaging.

Latin America

In Mexico, Colombia and much of the region, trade and foodservice buyers commonly say basa or filete de basa for Vietnamese pangasius. National labelling rules still require an honest product name, and the scientific name protects both importer and supplier if a regulator asks. Our Mexico and Colombia import guide covers sanitary registration and documents for those two markets.

What must the label show besides the name?

For fishery and aquaculture products sold to the final consumer or to mass caterers in the EU, Article 35 of Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013 requires:

• The commercial designation and the scientific name, for example Panga (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus)
• The production method, which for pangasius is "farmed"
• The country of production for farmed products, here Vietnam
• Whether the product has been defrosted, with limited exceptions
• The date of minimum durability, where appropriate

Prepacked fillets also follow Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, including a net weight that excludes glaze. The same logic applies to fish as to shrimp, explained in our glazing and net weight guide. Certificates and plant listing are covered in our EU certificates guide.

Does the name change the specification?

No. Two fillets with the same name can differ sharply in eating quality and yield. The contract should name the species and then fix the points that decide what arrives:

These are the options TBESFOOD offers for Pangasianodon hypophthalmus fillets from ASC-certified farms. The full table, with nutrition values per 100 g, is in our Spec Pack.

Where is Vietnamese pangasius going in 2025–2026?

According to VASEP, Vietnam exported nearly USD 2.2 billion of pangasius in 2025, up 8% on 2024. The EU took USD 175 million, almost flat, with declines in the Netherlands and Germany offset by growth in smaller member states. Brazil grew 36% to USD 176 million. CPTPP markets rose 34% to USD 367 million, led by Mexico at USD 77 million, the UK at USD 60 million and Colombia at USD 56 million.

Each of these markets uses a different name for the same fillet. An importer selling across Spain, the UK and Mexico may need three label versions of one product, which is easier to plan before the first production run than after.

Naming checklist before you order

1. Confirm the species with your supplier in writing: Pangasianodon hypophthalmus or Pangasius bocourti
2. Check the current commercial designation list for every country where the pack will be sold
3. Print the scientific name, "farmed" and "Vietnam" on the label
4. Use the same species name on the invoice, packing list and health certificate
5. Fix trim, size, colour, glaze and certification in the contract, whatever name you use
6. Send the label draft to your supplier for approval before printing

FAQ

Is panga the same as pangasius?

Yes. Panga is the accepted Spanish name for Pangasianodon hypophthalmus, and pangasius is the most common name across the rest of the EU.

Can I sell striped catfish as basa in the UK?

Seafish states that UK labelling rules allow pangasius, panga(s), basa or river cobbler for any species of the family, optionally with the word catfish. Check the current rules with your trading standards adviser before printing.

Can I use basa on a pack for Germany or Spain?

For striped catfish, the German list gives Pangasius or Schlankwels and the Spanish list gives Panga. Basa is not among them, so use the listed name with the scientific name.

What is swai?

Swai is the North American market name for Pangasianodon hypophthalmus. It describes the same fish that Europe calls pangasius or panga.

Which species does TBESFOOD supply?

Pangasianodon hypophthalmus from ASC-certified farms, as fillets, steaks, headed and gutted, or whole round. See our pangasius product page or send your label draft and destination for a quote.

Sources

• Seafish: Pangasius, sources, quantities and cultivation methods
• European Commission: commercial designations for Pangasianodon hypophthalmus
• European Commission: commercial designations for Pangasius bocourti
• Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013, Chapter IV: consumer information
• FRDC: Fish Name Fact File No 1, Basa
• VASEP: Pangasius exports in 2025 exceed USD 2 billion

Related reading

• Pangasius Fillet Price: What Moves a Quote from Vietnam
• ASC-Certified Pangasius from Vietnam: What to Ask Your Supplier