The Vietnam SPS Office has received Notification No. G/SPS/N/EU/825 from the SPS Committee Secretariat of the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding the European Union’s draft amendment to Regulation (EU) No. 2023/915, which sets maximum residue limits (MRLs) for inorganic arsenic in fish and seafood products.
According to the draft, the EU will establish MRLs for inorganic arsenic in fish and other aquatic species ranging from 0.05 to 1.5 ppm. The regulation is expected to be issued and take effect in July 2025. The EU will allow certain products already on the market to continue circulation until their expiry dates.
Under the new rules, the MRL values apply to the wet weight of the product. In the case of whole fish exports, the limit applies to the entire fish body. The EU also extends these MRLs to crustaceans (such as crabs) and bivalve mollusks (such as scallops).
Previously, the EU had not established specific limits for inorganic arsenic content in fish and seafood.
Vietnam’s Response and Industry Adaptation
Mr. Ngô Xuân Nam, Deputy Director of the Vietnam SPS Office, stated that the EU’s draft amendment affects all WTO members exporting fish and seafood to the EU. Inorganic arsenic may occur naturally in aquatic organisms due to environmental residues in water or sediments, which then enter the food chain or are absorbed through respiration.
Additionally, industrial pollution—from mining, metallurgy, pesticides, dyes, and textile production—can release arsenic into waterways. Other sources include fertilizers, untreated wastewater, or natural erosion processes that introduce inorganic arsenic into groundwater.
Recognizing this, Vietnamese seafood exporters are proactively enhancing quality control and testing raw materialsto ensure compliance with EU safety standards. This not only supports continued market access but also strengthens the reputation and brand of Vietnamese seafood.
Environmental and Industry Recommendations
According to Mr. Nam, inorganic arsenic contamination mainly originates from aquaculture environments, not during processing stages. Therefore, monitoring water quality in aquaculture areas is critical.
Vietnamese seafood processors are currently investing in advanced technologies and modern production systems to meet EU food safety standards. Meanwhile, economic expert Nguyễn Minh Phong emphasized that Vietnamese exporters must continuously update EU market policies, improve price competitiveness, quality, and traceability, and strengthen compliance with technical and origin requirements.
These efforts are essential for maintaining market access and enhancing Vietnam’s seafood export competitiveness in the EU market.