VASEP claims arsenic claims damage fish sauce industry The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) and several fish sauce associations have just sought for help from the PM to save the local fish sauce industry after a recent warning by Vietnam Standards and Consumers Association VINASTAS about the high arsenic levels in the product, which is badly affecting their sales.  A store selling fish sauce  In a complaint sent to the PM and several relevant agencies on October 21, VASEP, the HCM City Foods Association and three fish sauce associations in Nha Trang, Phan Thiet and Phu Quoc said that VINASTAS' conclusion had caused misunderstandings about organic arsenic in seafood which is not poisonous, and the toxic inorganic arsenic. "VINASTAS' conclusion does not comply with international standards on arsenic levels in foods in general and fish sauce in particular. It also conflicts with the Vietnamese Ministry of Health's regulations on inorganic arsenic levels in fish sauce," the complaint said. According to VASEP, VINASTAS' warning that fish sauce with higher protein levels will be contaminated with higher arsenic levels is worrying local people who use it every day and so threatening the local fish sauce and seafood industry. There have been doubts and worries among local consumers about fish sauce and some supermarkets and shops have stopped selling the product including Fivimart, VASEP said. Leaders of the five associations have asked the PM to investigate the situation, assess their losses, and issue fines to those illegally making and spreading information about the list of fish sauce products containing high arsenic levels. The associations also asked agencies to explain to the public that organic arsenic in fish sauce causes no harm to people's health, and soon produce a clear explanation regarding the standards of fish sauce. Vinastas confirmed on October 17 that a survey it conducted nationally found that most fish sauce has arsenic content exceeding permitted levels. Vuong Ngoc Tuan, Deputy General Secretary of Vinastas, said that of 150 samples of 88 fish sauce brands tested, the arsenic content in 101 samples was higher than the permitted 1 mg/litre, with some having as much as 5 mg/litre. Vietnam consumes 200 million litres of fish sauce annually, including 150 million litres of mixed fish sauce, called industrial fish sauce, and 50 million litres of traditional fish sauce. Total annual turnover in the market is VND7.2 - VND7.5 trillion (USD330 - 333 million), according to the General Statistics Office Dantrinews