Increase resources for food quality and safety management

Food quality and safety (FS) are pressing issues in the whole society. To strengthen state management, the National Assembly has issued the FHS Law, and the Secretariat has issued a Directive on strengthening the Party's leadership over FHS in the new situation.

Implementing the Law on Food Safety, the Directive of the Secretariat, the Government and the Prime Minister have issued many legal policies directing all levels and sectors to focus resources on enhancing the effectiveness of state management of quality and food safety of agricultural, forestry and fishery products as well as creating a favorable environment for people and businesses to produce and trade quality and safe agricultural, forestry and fishery products. However, the rate of violations of food safety regulations is still high, food safety incidents have not been promptly verified, verified, and provided with full information to people, reducing the ability to access the market for agricultural, forestry and fishery products.

Cakes and candies produced right at the fair are a concern for consumers about food hygiene and safety.

In addition to objective reasons such as fragmented, small-scale agricultural production, outdated preliminary processing and processing technology, subjective reasons are that many localities have not yet identified a focus to concentrate resources on directing and coordinating the handling of some long-standing unresolved problems such as banned substances in livestock farming, residual pesticides, antibiotic chemicals in vegetables, tea, meat, seafood, etc.

Food safety inspection at Huong Phuc cake production facility (Vinh City).

In particular, the system of Sub-Departments for Quality Management of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, although established in 61/63 provinces and cities, is seriously lacking in staff (many sub-departments are arranged with less than 10 staff, some places are even arranged with only 7 staff, not enough for the framework of leaders and professional staff), lacking in facilities (headquarters, means, inspection and testing equipment) and funding, so only a part of the assigned tasks can be implemented, affecting the effectiveness of quality management and food safety of agriculture, forestry and fisheries.

In the coming time, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will direct its agencies to perfect legal policies and strengthen direction and guidance for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and its affiliated units to synchronously, effectively and efficiently implement quality and food safety management in localities, creating clear changes in the quality and food safety of agricultural, forestry and fishery products.

Cong Kep water is a natural source of clear, cool, sweet water and has been certified to ensure food hygiene and safety. According to local people, Cong Kep water is “warm in winter, cool in summer and very healthy”

To effectively implement the above policy, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development requests the People's Council and the People's Committee of the province and city to direct the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to urgently coordinate to perfect the organizational structure and the Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Product Quality Management.

At the same time, consider and prioritize the arrangement of sufficient administrative staff for the leadership framework and job positions in specialized departments (Quality Management; Inspection, Legal Affairs) of the Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Product Quality Management in accordance with the local situation and conditions.

In addition, priority is given to arranging sufficient working space, means, equipment for inspection, testing and operating costs for the Sub-Departments of Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Product Quality Management in implementing assigned tasks.

According to Chinhphu.vn