Strengthening food safety and hygiene inspection during Lunar New Year

In 2018, the Food Safety and Hygiene Department performed well in managing and issuing food safety certificates. Specifically, it issued certificates of qualified food safety facilities (provincial level: 77 facilities; district level: 755 facilities); organized commitment signing for 15 collective kitchens; confirmed knowledge for 1,487 people (provincial level) and 8,048 people (grassroots level); received 146 self-declared product dossiers.

Attending the conference were leaders of the Department of Health, the Department of Food Safety and Hygiene, relevant departments and branches and medical staff from districts, cities and towns across the province. Photo: Cong Kien

Attention has been paid to information, propaganda and dissemination of laws, along with the implementation and launch of the “Month of Action for Food Safety”; organizing a conference to connect supply and demand for food safety; training on legal documents for facility owners, people directly producing, processing and trading food with a total of 17 classes (nearly 2,800 participants)...

In addition, focus on building a model to ensure food safety and monitoring food contamination and food poisoning risks; monitoring 48 school kitchens in localities.

The Central Inter-sectoral Inspection Team inspected the Thang Yen frozen facility, Block 6, Nghi Tan Ward, Cua Lo Town. Photo courtesy

In 2018, there were 6 cases of food poisoning in the province with 57 people infected and 4 people died. Of these, 2 were serious cases with 6 people infected and 4 people died due to drinking wine soaked with forest roots (containing poison from the aconite plant).

Along with that, the inspection, examination and handling of administrative violations of 28 establishments with a fine of 202 million VND were stepped up. Specialized inspection teams inspected and examined 240 establishments, of which 190 establishments passed (accounting for 79.17%), 50 establishments violated and were handled.

At the district level, 11,288 establishments were inspected and checked, 69 establishments were warned, 798 establishments were fined with a total amount of more than 1.3 billion VND; the number of establishments that were warned for violations was 934.

In 2019, the Department of Food Safety and Hygiene focused on controlling food safety risks in the food supply chain, minimizing food poisoning and foodborne disease incidents.

Specialist Doctor 2 Nguyen Xuan Hong - Deputy Director of the Department of Health requested to step up inspection and examination of food safety during the Lunar New Year and festivals in early 2019. Photo: Cong Kien

Speaking at the conference, Dr. Nguyen Xuan Hong - Deputy Director of the Department of Health requested that in the coming time, it is necessary to step up inspection and control of food safety and hygiene during the Lunar New Year and the first festivals of the year; effectively implement the Food Safety and Hygiene Month, promote communication work, and strengthen handling of violating establishments. In particular, promote the role and responsibility of grassroots officials in inspection and supervision; along with that, promote coordination between relevant departments and branches to make inspection and control work highly effective.