Ensuring food safety in sustainable development goals

(Baonghean) - Food safety is of utmost importance to social life, human health, the future of the race, promoting socio-economic development, hunger eradication, poverty reduction and international integration. Looking back at 5 years of implementing Directive No. 08-CT/TW dated October 21, 2011 of the Central Party Secretariat on "Strengthening the Party's leadership on food safety in the new situation" in the province, many important results have been achieved.

First of all, Party committees, authorities and the entire political system have considered this a regular task, proactively reviewing and assessing the situation, developing and implementing specific action programs, plans and projects, gradually resolving difficulties and challenges in food safety work at the local level. Timely issuing important leadership and direction documents to effectively implement Directive 08-CT/TW as well as the Food Safety Law and food safety standards.

Second, propaganda work on food safety issues is focused on from the province to the grassroots with many diverse and rich forms, suitable for the intellectual level of each region such as: training, organizing club activities, group meetings, thematic talks, seminars, newspapers, radio, billboards, posters, leaflets, radio, television... Propaganda and dissemination work on food safety also has the active participation of the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations.

Preliminary processing of safe vegetable products at the International Clean Vegetable and Fruit Supply Joint Stock Company in Nghia Dan district

Third, the capacity and quality of State management of food safety have been gradually improved. Attention has been paid to perfecting the Inter-sectoral Steering Committee on food safety and hygiene from the provincial level to the grassroots level in accordance with practical requirements. In particular, after the Prime Minister's Directive No. 13/CT-TTg dated May 9, 2016 on strengthening the responsibility of State management of food safety, the Provincial People's Committee and 100% of districts, cities and towns promptly perfected the Inter-sectoral Steering Committee on food safety with the Chairman of the People's Committee directly acting as the Head of the Steering Committee.

Chemistry students (Vinh University) analyze food safety samples. Photo: PV

In 5 years, the health sector has received declarations of conformity for 145 products, certified declarations of compliance with food safety regulations for 286 products. Strengthened management of food safety conditions for small-scale food production and trading establishments, street food, food service businesses, and markets. Managed 15,422 food production, trading, and processing establishments (1,953 processing, 8,552 trading, 4,937 food services).

Announced compliance with food safety regulations for 85 food products, confirmed advertising for 26 functional food products; guided and supported 20 production and business establishments to certify good agricultural practices (GAP), including 8 GAP cultivation establishments and 12 GAP aquaculture establishments; guided 126 establishments to ensure food safety conditions, certified 197 establishments meeting food safety conditions for agriculture, forestry and aquaculture; certified 37 establishments meeting food safety conditions under the management of industry and trade. Directed the development of planning for safe food production areas; supported the development of VietGAP, VietGAHP, HACCP models for 14 production and business establishments.

The work of interdisciplinary and specialized inspection has been focused on by the Party Committee, the government and the sectors to be implemented quite regularly, synchronously and drastically from the province to the grassroots. On average, about 1,392 inspection teams are established from the province to the commune each year; of which, 3 are interdisciplinary inspection teams at the provincial level; 78 are at the district level; and 1,311 are at the commune level.

Inter-sectoral and specialized inspections of food production and trading establishments have been strengthened, from 79.7% (in 2012) to 82.6% (in 2015). Many violating establishments have been handled, temporarily suspended from operation, many types of products have been confiscated and destroyed, many food safety violations have been promptly detected, handled according to the law and publicly announced on the mass media.

During the inspection process, violations were detected and handled according to the law. From 2012 to 2015, 85,168 establishments were inspected: 66,860 establishments passed, 16,067 establishments violated, 938 establishments were fined with a total fine of 549,060,000 VND.

High efficiency thanks to the application of some solutions on sprinkler irrigation and safe vegetable production process VietGap in Quynh Luong commune

However, after 5 years of implementing Directive 08, there are still shortcomings and limitations that need to be overcome, such as: in some places, Party committees and authorities have not really paid attention to food safety issues; have not focused on directing strongly and paying attention to propaganda and mobilization work, farmers producing, trading and consuming safe food.

Inter-sectoral coordination in monitoring and inspecting food safety production and trading establishments sometimes still has many limitations and shortcomings; inspection and supervision of the implementation of food safety and hygiene regulations still have many difficulties and shortcomings, and handling of food safety violations is not thorough. The effectiveness and efficiency of state management of food safety still have many limitations.

Some people are not fully aware of the dangers of dirty food, still abusing pesticides, using pesticides of unknown origin, not on the list of regulations; using polluted water to wash vegetables and fruits; abusing banned substances and antibiotics in animal husbandry; still using floating food products of unknown origin with high risk of poisoning.

Faced with the reality of food safety and hygiene in the country in general, and in Nghe An in particular, recently causing many concerns for people, to enhance the role and position of food safety in sustainable development today, it is necessary to focus on the following solutions:

Firstly, propaganda work needs to go one step ahead to raise awareness among individuals and communities about the role and position of food safety issues in health, productivity, economic development efficiency, trade, tourism and social security.

Interdisciplinary inspection team checks food safety at Big C supermarket.

Raise awareness and responsibility of Party committees, authorities, and socio-political organizations on the position and role of food safety issues. It is necessary to continue to thoroughly grasp the spirit of Directive No. 08-CT/TW dated October 21, 2011 of the Secretariat on "Strengthening the Party's leadership on food safety issues in the new situation". In addition, it is necessary to promote good practices and replicate safe food production, business, and processing models to affirm the role of clean food in the country's sustainable development.

Second, the Party Committee, the government, the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations from the province to the grassroots level strengthen their leadership and direction on food safety issues. Continue to effectively implement Directive 08-CT/TW on food safety issues and the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws, and the province's policies and laws on food safety.

Third, continue to consolidate, improve, increase investment in resources, ensure funding and conditions for state management of food safety. People's Committees at all levels, departments and branches assigned to manage food safety are responsible for consolidating and increasing human resources, working facilities and funding for agencies and functional units assigned to carry out food safety work from the province to the grassroots level.

Fourth, strengthen the inspection and examination work of inter-sectoral and specialized agencies; inspect the use of plant protection chemicals in cultivation, banned substances in animal husbandry, additives in production, processing and preservation of food; strengthen inspection and supervision to ensure food safety at markets and supermarkets; promote the effectiveness of the food safety market model; prevent and strictly control smuggled food, counterfeit goods, and commercial fraud. Strictly handle and discipline acts that violate the provisions of the law on food safety.

Ho Phuc Hop

(Standing Committee Member, Head of Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department)