More than 1,000 establishments in Nghe An violate food safety regulations

On the afternoon of January 18, the Central interdisciplinary inspection team on food hygiene and safety conducted an inspection trip to Nghe An province. The team was led by Ms. Tran Viet Nga - Deputy Director of the Department of Food Safety and Hygiene (Ministry of Health). Also accompanying were representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The inspection team worked with representatives of Nghe An province's authorities. Photo: Tien Hung

After a direct inspection at Mega Market Vinh supermarket, the delegation had a working session with representatives of relevant agencies and departments of Nghe An province. Reporting to the inspection delegation, Mr. Pham Ngoc Quy - Head of Nghe An Food Safety and Hygiene Department said that in 2021, Nghe An established nearly 1,200 interdisciplinary and specialized teams to inspect and examine more than 10,000 establishments. The results showed that more than 9,200 establishments met the standards (89.78%), 1,056 establishments violated (accounting for 10.22%). Through inspection, a total fine of more than 3 billion VND was imposed.

In addition, the Market Management Department confiscated and destroyed expired goods, smuggled food, and food of unknown origin with a total value of more than 2.7 billion VND. The provincial police seized 28,120 animals and animal products that had not been quarantined and had unknown origins; 12.2 tons of dirty goods and food, expired, and of unknown origins; 17.1 tons of smelly animal products, and many other food items that did not ensure food safety.

An interdisciplinary delegation from Nghe An province during a food safety inspection at a supermarket. Photo: Thanh Chung

The main violations of food safety are not having a certificate of food safety eligibility; not having a business registration certificate as prescribed; not implementing or not implementing properly the provisions of law on the 3-step food inspection regime, food sample storage; storage areas and warehouses do not have or do not have adequate shelves, signs, regulations, procedures, and hygiene regimes; solid waste collection tools do not have lids...

Also according to Mr. Quy, in 2021, there was only 1 food poisoning case in the province with 5 people infected, no deaths (2 cases and 12 people infected less than the previous year).

Speaking at the meeting, Ms. Tran Viet Nga highly appreciated the work of ensuring food safety and hygiene in Nghe An, when all sectors have their own directives and are implemented very seriously. In particular, the Deputy Director of the Department of Food Safety and Hygiene highly appreciated the fact that the People's Committee of Nghe An province issued Decision No. 11 in May 2021 regulating the assignment, decentralization and coordination of state management of food safety in the province. This decision has strongly decentralized the work of food safety management, especially at the district and commune levels.

In addition, the inspection team also highly appreciated Nghe An's communication work on food safety issues. This is a very important front in ensuring food safety and hygiene in the current context.