A group of people applied for a license with one thing in mind, but sold functional foods with another to ethnic minorities.

On the morning of June 12, Mr. Xa Van Luong - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ky Son district led the district's inspection team to Pha Danh commune to clarify the case of a group of people wearing white coats who came to visit and examine the health of local people, then sold health protection products to them. This is the group of people from the Viet My International Investment and Consulting Joint Stock Company, who had previously been issued a letter of introduction by the Health Department of Ky Son district to the communes to "conduct consultation and introduce health protection products in the area".

“It is true that we signed a notice for them to send to the commune, because they have complete documents so we cannot ban them. But in that document, they did not sell the products. In that document, we also asked the localities to closely monitor. However, after receiving feedback from the people, this morning the district leaders and related departments and offices are going to Pha Danh commune and other communes to check,” said Mr. Vi Chien Thang - Head of the Health Department of Ky Son district.

According to the leader of the People's Committee of Pha Danh commune, after receiving the letter of introduction from the Health Department, the group of people from this company went to all 10 villages in the commune to introduce and sell many products. "They sold 2 types of functional food products, each box they said cost up to 700,000 VND but they gave people a 50% discount, so it was only 350,000 VND. People liked the promotion, so many people spent money to buy it," said the leader of the People's Committee of Pha Danh commune, adding that after some people started complaining, this group of people quietly withdrew from Ky Son.

According to the reporter's investigation, in addition to Pha Danh commune, this group of people also had time to introduce and sell products in many communes such as Bac Ly, My Ly and Huoi Tu. This group of people had 4 people, wearing white blouses when they met with the people and introduced the products. The 2 products that this group of people sold were "Bao Minh pills" and "An Binh bone and joint pills". To create trust, this group of people also brought an ultrasound machine to examine and consult on health before introducing and selling the products.

Previously, the Head of the Ky Son District Health Department signed a document "Notification and supervision of product advertising and introduction activities" to the communes regarding the Viet My International Investment and Consulting Joint Stock Company's implementation of consulting and introducing health protection products in the area. The document clearly stated that on May 20, the District Health Department received an introduction letter from Viet My International Investment and Consulting Joint Stock Company and related legal documents on implementing consulting and introducing health protection products in the area. Through checking the documents, there was a Certificate of Business Registration of the Joint Stock Company with code 0106195493 registered for the first change by Business Registration Office No. 01 of the Hanoi Department of Planning and Investment, issued on July 20, 2016; Self-declaration of products, product standards of the Company; qualifications of the person consulting and introducing products...

Through inspection, the legal documents of the products are available on the system. The products that the Company consulted and introduced include: (1) BAO NINH HEALTH PROTECTION FOOD; Product declaration registration number: 4653/2018/DKSP; Advertising content confirmation number: 00957/2019/ATTP- XNQC; (2) HOAN MY BONE AND JOINT HEALTH PROTECTION FOOD; Product declaration registration number: 4652/2018/DKSP; Advertising content confirmation number: 00957/2019/ATTP- XNQC.

Mr. Thang emphasized that the company has all the necessary documents so it cannot be banned. However, the unit also directed the functional forces to closely monitor the organization of seminars and introductions of functional food products of Viet My International Investment and Consulting Joint Stock Company according to the provisions of law. At the same time, it is required to immediately stop the organization of introductions when detecting signs of introducing and advertising products that are not in accordance with the content confirmed by the Food Safety Department, taking advantage of product introduction seminars to examine and treat diseases, illegally consult, sell and introduce functional foods as medicines in the management area; Strictly handle violations according to regulations in the field of advertising. Report to the District People's Committee (through the Health Department) for timely handling measures.

In addition, the document also requires the Vietnam-USA International Investment and Consulting Joint Stock Company to report to the local authorities of communes and towns before organizing the program and only organize the implementation of the program when approved by the local authorities where the program is held. At the same time, develop a specific plan and notify the local authorities of the work schedule to monitor and supervise the implementation of the program.

During the implementation process, no fees must be collected, security and order must be ensured at the venue and safety must be ensured for people participating in listening to the advertisement. The company must comply with the registered content and be responsible before the law if it violates the provisions of the Advertising Law... Meanwhile, in reality, the products this company sells are not the same as what it has worked with the Department of Health. Specifically, this company sells to people "Bao Minh pills" and "An Binh bone and joint pills".