The Minister of Industry and Trade has just directed the Competition Management Department to establish an interdisciplinary inspection team to inspect the compliance with legal regulations of the Vietnam Association for Standards and Consumer Protection (Vinastas).

This inspection team was established on the basis of implementing the Prime Minister's direction on assigning the Ministry of Industry and Trade to preside over and coordinate with relevant agencies to specifically review the compliance with legal regulations in the process of publishing information on the press of the Vietnam Association for Standards and Consumer Protection, strictly handle violations (if any) and report to the Prime Minister before November 10, 2016.

The Ministry of Health affirms that traditional fish sauce is safe.

Accordingly, the Minister of Industry and Trade has directed the Competition Management Department on the following contents:

First, establish an interdisciplinary inspection team to inspect compliance with legal regulations on consumer rights protection of the Vietnam Standards and Consumer Protection Association (Vinastas):

The Inspection Team includes: representatives from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Public Security, and Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations.

Test content:

- Clarify the nature and legal basis for conducting survey activities and announcing survey results of Vinastas.

- Determine the level of violation according to current laws regarding survey activities and publication of survey results of Vinastas (if any).

- Clearly identify the receipt of sponsorship from enterprises or technical and scientific organizations of Vinastas in conducting survey activities in the recent past.

Second, there is a document requesting Vinastas to prepare documents and files on the survey process, report on survey results and contents related to the inspection content to prepare to work with the Inspection Team.

Last week, the Vietnam Standards and Consumers Association (Vinastas) announced that 67% of fish sauce contained total arsenic exceeding the permitted level. This information has caused confusion and concern among the public. The Prime Minister has asked ministries and sectors to investigate and clarify.

On the morning of October 22, the Ministry of Health confirmed that 100% of fish sauce samples were safe because they did not contain inorganic arsenic exceeding the threshold.

According to Vietnamnet