Central Inter-sectoral Inspectorate: Food safety violations in Nghe An are due to lack of decisive handling

(Baonghean.vn) – Through inspection, the Central Interdisciplinary Inspection Team pointed out shortcomings in management and inspection work leading to many establishments violating food safety and hygiene in Nghe An.

Hau Trang ham facility has been inspected many times but still has many violations.

As reported by Nghe An Newspaper: On the morning of May 5, the Central Interdisciplinary Inspection Team (Team No. 3) on food safety inspected two production, processing and trading establishments in Vinh city.

At Hau Trang ham and sausage production facility (Quan Bau ward, Vinh city), the inspection team discovered that the owner of the facility, Mr. Nguyen Nhu Hau, lacked a health certificate; lacked updated slaughter inspection and veterinary inspection certificates for shipments; and lacked food safety knowledge certificates for 3 people directly involved in production. In addition, the general food safety conditions of the facility did not meet requirements; the facility lacked storage samples, the refrigeration equipment did not have temperature control, and there was no information related to the processed products.

When asked, Mr. Nguyen Nhu Hau said: Thanks to the inspection team, the facility itself knew that it still lacked the above conditions... However, this information contradicts what the facility owner said later: Every year, the facility is inspected by the authorities 1-2 times!

Cut, divide and process fish for sale at Big C Vinh Supermarket.

On the same morning, the Central Interdisciplinary Inspection Team inspected Big C Vinh Supermarket. The team identified a number of errors of the supermarket, including the situation where the supermarket purchased goods from food suppliers, then divided, processed, and packaged them under the Big C Vinh brand such as chicken, fish, etc.;Some foods produced and packaged by Big C do not clearly state the production date, expiry date, qualitative and quantitative information.….

At the working session with the leaders of the Provincial People's Committee and the Interdisciplinary Steering Committee on Food Safety in Nghe An province, Mr. Nguyen Huy Hoan - Deputy Director of the Department of Planning and Investment, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Head of the Central Interdisciplinary Inspection Team pointed out: In Nghe An, inspection and post-inspection work have not gone hand in hand, there is inspection but lack of post-inspection. Post-inspection and handling are still lacking in determination. Post-inspection work needs to be proactive, thereby reminding and controlling the establishments.

Mr. Nguyen Huy Hoan - Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Industry and Trade, head of the inspection team, stated the reasons for many violations of food safety in Nghe An.

According to Mr. Nguyen Huy Hoan, post-inspection is to guide establishments to do better, and also to have a reason to handle it strictly. For establishments that violate the law, the first time the authorities will warn; the second time they will be fined; the third time they will be suspended immediately. Reality in Nghe An shows that: If there is an inspection but no post-inspection, the violating establishments will become "immune". After paying the fine, there will be no change or progress. The violating establishments are actually very knowledgeable and have been trying to find ways to circumvent the law by all means.

Thanh Son