Products sold in Singapore 'safe'

By Sharmilpal Kaur

SHARK'S fin sold in Singapore is either not contaminated with mercury or contains such insignificant traces of the metal that it is unlikely to be harmful.

This is the finding by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) of Singapore, which has an ongoing programme to monitor fish products, including shark's fin, to check for contamination by mercury and other metals.

The AVA head of public affairs, Mr Goh Shih Yong, said yesterday:

'The tests done on the shark's fin products have shown that mercury was either not detected or was at levels well below the permitted level of five parts per million.'

The Straits Times contacted the AVA on this issue following reports that an investigation by global environmental group WildAid had revealed high levels of mercury in shark's fin samples taken from Thailand.

These samples were imported mainly from Hongkong.

Mr Goh said Singapore gets shark's fin from more than 20 countries.

Only 10 per cent of the total imported delicacy came from Hongkong, while just 1.4 per cent came from Thailand.

Last year, 1,170 tonnes of raw, processed and canned shark's fin, worth S$69 million, was imported, but only 203 tonnes were consumed locally. The rest were re-exported.

Thai authorities have advised people to stay away from shark's fin until investigations are completed.

Methyl mercury, which is the organic form of mercury, is toxic and can damage the nervous system and the kidneys, as well as cause birth defects.

The toxic metal is found mainly in fish muscle, said Mr Goh. There is very little muscle in the shark's fin, which is the part used for making the soup.

Mr Goh said: 'Moderate consumption of shark's fin should not pose a significant health hazard.'