KUALA LUMPUR: The amount of formaldehyde in imported fish is within the level allowed by the Health Ministry.

A ministry statement signed by the Safety and Food Quality Division director said the amount of embalming fluid in imported fish was not hazardous to health.

The ministry was responding to a New Straits Times report on Jan 6 which quoted Datuk Nik Sapeia Nik Yusof, the pro tem president of a newly formed association for deep-sea fishermen, as saying that the chemical was widely used, especially by Thai fisherman, to preserve the catch.

The ministry said it would prosecute anyone who increased the levels of formaldehyde in imported fish under the Food Act 1983.

Those convicted can be fined up to RM20,000 (S$8,420) or jailed for five years, or both.

The ministry said it had checked the formaldehyde levels in imported fish, especially those from Thailand, and found them to be safe.