Unlabeled and expired candies are rampant near Tet

People buy and sell candy at Muong Xen market (Ky Son). Photo: Xuan Hoang

The days before Tet are the time when shopping for confectionery, soft drinks, and milk of all kinds increases sharply. Therefore, grocery stores and businesses have more diverse products and more customers.

However, many people do not understand when buying goods, so kiosk owners take advantage of this to sell many types of confectionery, soft drinks... of unknown origin, violating product labels, expired...

At a grocery store in Xieng Thu village, Chieu Luu commune (Ky Son), Tet goods were displayed everywhere. Market management forces inspected and discovered many expired candies, milk... and other products with no listed prices... After preparing a file for handling, the authorities explained and destroyed them on the spot.

Market Management Team No. 7 inspects goods sold at a kiosk in Xieng Thu village, Chieu Luu commune (Ky Son). Photo: Q.An

Mr. Nguyen Minh Toan - Captain of Market Management Team No. 7, said: In the last days of the year, the unit coordinated with localities: Ky Son, Con Cuong, Tuong Duong to check all confectionery, soft drinks, milk... at markets and grocery stores. By December 22, basically all kiosks in the 3 districts had been checked.

Through inspection, it was found that people often violated the following errors: Not posting prices, product labels, expired products... In addition to administrative fines, the unit also explained to people to help them understand better when buying and selling goods, especially food items.

Many candies, milk... are expired but the owner still sells them in the kiosk.

From January 9 to February 28, 2020, the People's Committee of Ky Son district established two inspection teams to clear encroachment on traffic safety corridors; combat smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods and food safety at all business and trading kiosks in the district.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hoang - Chairman of Ky Son District People's Committee

According to Mr. Nguyen Anh Doai - Head of Economic - Infrastructure Department of Ky Son district, after 2 days of inspection in some communes: Muong Long, Huoi Tu... discovered many items without expiry date, expired, and no business license for some items such as alcohol and cigarettes.

In Que Phong district, there are many markets, which are the trading and business centers of the people. Among them, Tri Le market is the trading center of the communes: Tri Le, Nam Nhoong, Chau Thon... so at the end of the year, it is always bustling with people shopping for Tet.

Goods are transported by traders to Tri Le border market. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Mr. Lu Van Cuong - Vice Chairman of Tri Le Commune People's Committee said that at the end of the year, the district's interdisciplinary team inspected the Tet goods in the market area. During the inspection, the team discovered many expired goods, of unknown origin... All the goods that violated regulations were destroyed on the spot by the authorities.

It is known that at the end of this year, localities, especially mountainous districts, have established inspection teams to combat smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods; food safety and hygiene; and livestock slaughtering activities in the area. This is an activity to ensure the health and safety of people during the Lunar New Year.