Social Affairs
Health Ministry to announce tests on seafood in central provinces in late August
The results of tests on seafood caught in the four central provinces of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue affected by the mass fish deaths in April will be revealed in late August, the Food Safety Department under the Ministry of Health said.
According to Deputy Director of Food Safety Department Tran Viet Nga, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources on August 22 announced the marine environment in the coastal areas of four central provinces being basically safe.
The ministry’s experts have been conducting tests on fish samples taken daily from sea ports and aquaculture ponds in the four localties.
Deputy Director Nga said the ratio of contamination among samples has reduced over time. In July, seven out of 27 fish samples were found to contain heavy metals, but the rate decreased to 1 out of 18 on August 19.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment announced on August 22 the sea water in the region was safe for swimming and aquaculture.
The tests were implemented under the Health Ministry’s plan issued on July 11 on measures to deal with the serious environmental incidents caused by steel maker Formosa Ha Tinh.
Besides fresh seafood, those kept at cold storage were also tested for safety before selling. Unsafe seafood batches must be destroyed.
The plan also instructs relevant agencies to issue safety certificates for seafood caught beyond 20 nautical miles from the shore. For seafood caught within 20 nautical miles, relevant agencies must maintain close monitoring until their safety is proved. Products made from sea fish such as dried fish or fish sauce must be subject to strict food safety supervision.
The plan requires surveillance of sea water within three nautical miles from the shore, along with monitoring of air and underground water quality in areas around Formosa Ha Tinh, which discharged waste water to the sea that caused the mass fish deaths.
The unusual fish deaths were first discovered in Ky Anh township, Ha Tinh province on April 6, then more fish died in Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue provinces.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, aquacultural farms reported 67 tonnes of dead fish while the volume of natural fish found dead was estimated at 100 tonnes.
On June 30, Formosa Ha Tinh accepted responsibility for the mass fish deaths. The pollution damaged about 400 hectares of coral and affected over 260,000 people who earn their living by working in sea-related activities.
The company vowed to compensate over 11.5 trillion VND (500 million USD), which will be used to support local fishermen in changing their jobs and recover the polluted maritime environment. It also vowed to deal with shortcomings and limitations in waste and wastewater treatment.
The ministry’s experts have been conducting tests on fish samples taken daily from sea ports and aquaculture ponds in the four localties.
Deputy Director Nga said the ratio of contamination among samples has reduced over time. In July, seven out of 27 fish samples were found to contain heavy metals, but the rate decreased to 1 out of 18 on August 19.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment announced on August 22 the sea water in the region was safe for swimming and aquaculture.
Photo for illustration.
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Besides fresh seafood, those kept at cold storage were also tested for safety before selling. Unsafe seafood batches must be destroyed.
The plan also instructs relevant agencies to issue safety certificates for seafood caught beyond 20 nautical miles from the shore. For seafood caught within 20 nautical miles, relevant agencies must maintain close monitoring until their safety is proved. Products made from sea fish such as dried fish or fish sauce must be subject to strict food safety supervision.
The plan requires surveillance of sea water within three nautical miles from the shore, along with monitoring of air and underground water quality in areas around Formosa Ha Tinh, which discharged waste water to the sea that caused the mass fish deaths.
The unusual fish deaths were first discovered in Ky Anh township, Ha Tinh province on April 6, then more fish died in Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue provinces.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, aquacultural farms reported 67 tonnes of dead fish while the volume of natural fish found dead was estimated at 100 tonnes.
On June 30, Formosa Ha Tinh accepted responsibility for the mass fish deaths. The pollution damaged about 400 hectares of coral and affected over 260,000 people who earn their living by working in sea-related activities.
The company vowed to compensate over 11.5 trillion VND (500 million USD), which will be used to support local fishermen in changing their jobs and recover the polluted maritime environment. It also vowed to deal with shortcomings and limitations in waste and wastewater treatment.
