HÀ NỘI —
Ministers, Government officials and People’s Committee leaders should improve
management of food safety and hygiene, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc said in
a recent directive.
The
directive showed continuous all-out efforts by the new Government to curb the
outflow of contaminated food that overwhelms markets across the country and
poses high risks to consumers’ health.
Last
month, for the first time, PM Nguyễn Xuân Phúc chaired a teleconference with
cabinet members and the leaders of all 63 localities to enact measures and
mechanisms to tackle food safety.
In a
newly issued directive on the matter, the Government leader urged Ministry of
Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), and Ministry of
Industry and Trade (MIT) to step up food safety inspections, especially
unscheduled ones, and impose punishments on violators. The individuals and
organisations who overlook management will be subjected to fines, he said.
PM Phúc
directed the Ministry of Finance to compile a spending plan in which localities
were allowed to spend money collected from violators on conducting inspections,
technology investment and contaminated food disposal.
People’s
Committees at all levels must be responsible for ensuring food safety in areas
under their management. They should see food safety as an urgent task, and all
sources must be mobilised to assure food is safe.
The
document directs a national steering committee on combating smuggling,
commercial frauds and counterfeit goods, and customs, border guards, watch
market forces and relevant agencies to monitor transport, export, import and
trading of fresh food and beverages with unclear origins.
MARD, MIT
and the Ministry of Health were tasked with co-operating with relevant agencies
to issue a list of banned substances and stop the use of sabutamol, antibiotics
and other regulated substances in farming, food processing and production.
The PM
asked the Ministry of Health to stiffen controls on functional food and food
additives, and direct localities to ensure food safety in street food stalls,
industrial zones, tourism spots, festivals and big events.
Phúc also
called on media agencies to report outstanding safe food models and violations
to the public in a reliable, unbiased and timely manner.
In
particular, the PM highlighted the establishment of planting areas that ensure
raw materials for farming produce while calling for the development of safe
food production models and supply chains.
On
Monday, MARD announced criteria to develop safe food supply chains as part of
efforts to expand the model nationwide.
According
to the ministry, a safe farm produce supply chain is a collection of factors
that have strong, stable, sustainable economic connections among farmers,
manufacturers and enterprises. It oversees all steps, from choosing varieties,
irrigation, fertilising and using pesticides to preliminary processing. The
food quality must comply with food safety regulations and be given origin
traceability when consumers buy them.
Food
safety in agriculture was made a priority task for the sector this year, Vũ Văn
Tám, the MARD deputy minister said.
He said
the ministry had piloted safe food models in Hà Nội and HCM City from 2013 to
2015. Food supply chains would be expanded to other areas in the coming time.
“It
requires co-operation from State agencies, production and business facilities,
and media to offer safe farming products manufactured under safe food supply
chains,” he said.
According
to MARD, 280 safe food supply chains have been set up in 35 provinces and
cities across the country so far. Main products include vegetables, fruit, tea,
meat, eggs and aquatic products. Last week, the ministry also publicised 69
stores nationwide certified for providing food that meets safety requirements.
VNS
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