The Ministry Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Health will jointly take samples of the massive frozen fish inventories in the central region to test for unsafe products.
Companies in Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue have amassed 4,000 tonnes of frozen fish, including a large amount caught after early April when the Formosa toxic incident was discovered.
Authorities check a cold storage with 30 tonnes of frozen fish in Quang Tri Province
Authorities in the provinces have asked management agencies to quickly check the frozen fish inventories to help ease the difficulties facing the companies as well as ensure safety for consumers.
Le Minh Ngan, Vice Chairman of Quang Binh Province People's Committee, said that currently, roughly 2,000 tonnes of frozen fish worth VND100 billion are being stored in the province. The stockpiles have been blamed on slower seafood. Firms meanwhile have to hire cold storage to hold the stocks.
Following the call for help from central localities, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health will co-operate to take samples from the massive fish stocks for tests.
After the check, the government will either help firms sell the products or destroy toxic samples. Fish processors and retailers don’t currently have space for new stock.
At a recent press conference, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha said that sea water in the four central provinces was safe for tourism.
The Ministry of Health will announce the results of tests on fish caught in the four central provinces hit by mass fish deaths and confirm whether local fish stocks are safe next month.
