Enhancing the capacity of state management in food safety.

Following the issuance of the Project on Enhancing State Management Capacity on Food Safety in Nghe An Province for the period 2020-2025 by the Provincial People's Committee, the Department of Industry and Trade issued Plan No. 1876/KH-SCT dated November 13, 2019, on the implementation of the Project “Enhancing State Management Capacity on Food Safety in Nghe An Province for the period 2020-2025”.

An inter-agency team conducts an inspection at a restaurant in Vinh City. Photo: Thu Huyen.

To implement the project, the Department of Industry and Trade annually develops a plan for training and disseminating legal documents on food safety to food safety management officials and production and business establishments under the management of the Industry and Trade sector in the province. This aims to improve management skills for officials and raise awareness among establishments regarding food safety. Simultaneously, it develops a plan for specialized inspections during peak food safety periods such as the Lunar New Year and Spring Festival, the Food Safety Action Month, the Mid-Autumn Festival, and participates in inter-agency inspection teams at the provincial and district/city levels throughout the province.

Inspection at the Hanoi Beer - Nghe An factory. Photo: Thu Huyen

The sector has widely disseminated information on food safety to a large number of people and food production and business establishments through local radio and television systems, industry and trade programs, and local newspapers. Banners and slogans promoting food safety have been printed during peak periods. Guidance and direction on communication work have been strengthened for district, city, and town People's Committees during peak periods of food safety.

A multi-agency team inspects mooncakes at a store in Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan district. Photo: Thu Huyen.

From 2020 to June 2022, the Department organized and coordinated numerous training courses to improve the professional skills and expertise of officials and civil servants in the field of food safety management for officials and civil servants of the sector and the People's Committees of districts, cities, and towns; and provided legal knowledge to organizations and individuals producing and trading food within its management scope, with approximately 150-200 people per course. In coordination with the Domestic Market Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, training courses on food safety knowledge were organized in Nghe An province for officials and civil servants managing food safety at the district and commune levels.

The Department of Industry and Trade has also coordinated with relevant agencies and units to organize inter-agency inspection teams of the province to ensure food safety during peak periods such as Lunar New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival, and the Food Safety Action Month. Annually, it develops plans for specialized inspections and monitoring of food safety at establishments under its management.

Mr. Vo Minh Tuan, Chief Inspector of the Department of Industry and Trade, stated: Through timely dissemination of laws and regulations in diverse forms and with rich content, the awareness and compliance with the law among consumers and food production, processing, and business establishments have gradually improved. Many food production and business establishments that previously violated regulations are now complying well with administrative conditions and procedures regarding food hygiene and safety, such as: Business registration certificates appropriate to their business lines, food safety certificates, health certificates for employees as required, self-declaration of products, and commitments to ensuring food safety in production and business.

As a result, there have been significant changes in the awareness of each organization and individual regarding the production and business of quality food, with a focus on consumer health.

Inter-agency team inspects compliance with food safety and hygiene regulations at restaurants in Vinh City. Photo: Thu Huyen.

However, while the regulation on self-declaration of products has reduced administrative procedures and facilitated businesses in carrying out testing before bringing products to market, there are still few food testing units at the local level. Meanwhile, production and business establishments are still struggling to choose testing parameters, and the cost of testing remains quite high, especially for small-scale producers.

Furthermore, within the province, the number of small-scale food production and business establishments is large and constantly fluctuating. Meanwhile, Government Decree No. 15/2018/ND-CP dated February 2, 2018, stipulates that small-scale establishments are not required to obtain food safety certificates, creating difficulties in management. Many establishments prioritize profit over legal regulations. Post-inspection work faces many challenges due to the lack of a synchronized management system, insufficient personnel responsible for food safety, and a lack of specialized training for officials in localities. While attention has been paid to disseminating legal information, it has not always been systematic, consistent, or widespread among the population, especially in remote, mountainous, and border areas.

Clean and safe food is always the consumer's choice. Photo: Thu Huyen

Mr. Le Duc Anh, Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade, stated: "Under the direction of higher authorities, the Department of Industry and Trade has promptly implemented regulations on food safety within its management scope in the province. In the coming time, we will continue to update new regulations and disseminate legal regulations on food safety to production and business establishments in the province so that they can promptly understand and implement them in accordance with the law."

Going forward, we will focus on directing and implementing food safety measures during key periods of the year, paying particular attention to high-risk food items. We will strengthen coordination among sectors in inspection and post-inspection of food safety at establishments under the management of the Ministry of Industry and Trade…

Mr. Le Duc Anh - Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade