In the past 5 years, Vietnamese seafood has not been found to be contaminated with inorganic arsenic. In the face of the new EU regulations, proactive adaptation is what this industry is implementing and carrying out.

Dr. Ngo Xuan Nam - Deputy Director of the Office of Notification and National Enquiry Point on Epidemiology and Animal and Plant Quarantine of Vietnam (Vietnam SPS Office) had an interview with reporters of the Industry and Trade Newspaper about this issue.

- Sir, the information that the EU will control inorganic arsenic in many types of imported seafood is of interest to many businesses in the industry, can you share specifically about this?

Mr. Ngo Xuan Nam: Recently, the Vietnam SPS Office received Notice No. G/SPS/N/EU/825 from the Secretariat of the SPS Committee, World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding the European Union (EU) Food Safety Authority's draft amendment and supplement to Regulation (EU) No. 2023/915 establishing maximum residue levels (MRLs) of inorganic arsenic in fish and other seafood.

Specifically, the EU adds maximum residue levels (MRLs) of inorganic arsenic in fish and other seafood from 0.05 - 1.5 ppm. The regulation is expected to be issued and take effect in July 2025. The EU allows certain products to remain on the market until their expiry date.

The EU has very detailed regulations on inorganic arsenic residues in the draft. For example, the maximum residue level is applied to the wet weight of the product. In the case of whole fish exported, the maximum residue level will be calculated for the entire fish.

In addition to fish, the EU also applies MRLs for inorganic arsenic to certain crustaceans such as crabs, or bivalve mollusks such as scallops.

Previously, the EU did not set specific limits for inorganic arsenic content in fish and seafood products. The EU's proposal of the above draft regulation to seek opinions from WTO members aims to protect the health of consumers in the EU market and comply with the provisions of the SPS Agreement.

Currently, the Vietnam SPS Office has sent a document to the Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development; the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Control; Department of Food Safety (Ministry of Health); Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers.

- Who are the subjects directly affected by the draft amendments to EU regulations, sir?

Mr. Ngo Xuan Nam: The draft amendment to the EU regulation establishing maximum residue levels (MRLs) of inorganic arsenic is related to fish products and other aquatic products of WTO members that have been exported to the EU market.

In fact, some aquatic species may have small amounts of inorganic arsenic residues in their bodies. The reason is that inorganic arsenic residues in water or sediments then enter the aquatic organism's body through the food chain or through the respiratory system.

In addition, fish and aquatic products may be contaminated with inorganic arsenic due to environmental pollution, originating from mining, metallurgy, pesticide, dye, textile production, etc., discharging arsenic into water sources; or fertilizers and pesticides containing inorganic arsenic flowing into rivers and lakes; or from untreated domestic wastewater; or in groundwater due to the process of leaching from the earth's surface...

In response to the EU's control of inorganic arsenic in fish and some imported seafood, exporting enterprises have been proactively adapting, controlling and improving quality to be ready to export to the EU market. This is also a way to affirm the brand and reputation of Vietnamese seafood.

- Along with the initiative of enterprises, what are the tasks of management agencies, sir?

Mr. Ngo Xuan Nam: The new draft regulation issued by the EU is for inorganic arsenic. Although inorganic arsenic contamination in aquatic products has not been detected in recent years, this does not mean that we are subjective.

Proactively adapting to SPS measures of the import market in general and the EU in particular is a solution that the authorities are promoting to implement. Accordingly, the Vietnam SPS Office has promptly updated information to relevant agencies, units, and industry associations; the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Control (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) has directed the implementation of a program to monitor and supervise the quality of water environment and sediment environment in farming areas to strictly control the content of inorganic arsenic in water.

Because inorganic arsenic contamination has almost never been detected during the processing process but mainly in farming areas and water environment quality. Therefore, controlling the quality of aquaculture water environment in farming areas is extremely important.

Vietnamese seafood production and processing enterprises are also strengthening inspection and monitoring of inorganic arsenic content in input materials. At the same time, they are investing in advanced technology and production processes to ensure that products meet EU market food safety standards.

Thank you very much.

Currently, Vietnamese seafood accounts for 3.7% of the EU's total seafood imports. Vietnam is the 5th largest non-EU seafood supplier to the EU and the 2nd largest supplier from Asia (after China) to this market. In 2024, the Vietnamese seafood industry has reached an impressive target, with an export turnover of 10 billion USD, an increase of 12% compared to 2023. Of which, exports to the EU market reached 1 billion USD. VASEP commented that the EVFTA is expected to help seafood exports grow by about 2% in the 2020 - 2030 period.

Source: Cong Thuong Newspaper