Injecting impurities into raw shrimp can be a criminal offense.

The Government will deal with this action firmly and has asked the authorities to study the possibility of adding a new crime to the Penal Code.

(Illustration)

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has just signed and issued a Prime Minister's Directive on preventing the act of adding impurities to raw shrimp and the production and trading of shrimp containing impurities.

The Directive requires the Chairmen of the People's Committees of coastal provinces and cities, especially Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, and An Giang provinces, to direct local levels and sectors to strengthen inspection, examination, and supervision according to regulations for aquaculture, exploitation, collection, preliminary processing, preservation, transportation, processing, and seafood trading establishments to prevent the act of adding impurities to raw shrimp and the production and trading of shrimp containing impurities; strictly handle violations, including administrative sanctions, temporary revocation of the right to use the certificate of food safety qualified establishments or temporary suspension of operations for repeat offenders, and public announcement of violating organizations, enterprises, and individuals on the mass media.

Review and clarify the responsibilities of relevant levels and sectors and clarify and strictly handle officials and civil servants who assist and cover up for establishments, businesses and individuals who put impurities in raw shrimp and produce and trade shrimp and shrimp products containing impurities.

The Government assigned the Ministry of Public Security to preside over and coordinate with the Supreme People's Procuracy, the Supreme People's Court and relevant ministries to study the acts of organizing and participating in adding impurities to raw shrimp and trading shrimp containing impurities so that competent authorities can consider and add new crimes to the Penal Code.

According to Agriculture