Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) - The People’sCommittees of Hanoi, HCM City and other big cities have been instructed topilot higher standards and technical regulations for food safety.
The move is part of the PrimeMinister's Directive 17/CT-TTg issued on April 13 to continue strengtheningState management of food safety.
The People’s Committees of provincesand cities must also strengthen the management of food safety in tradevillages, local markets and wholesale markets that sell agricultural products.
Meanwhile, centrally-runprovinces and cities are requested to develop safe food production areas orchains and safe food distribution systems, and promote the application ofquality management processes.
The Prime Minister asked theMinistry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) to develop a safe food distributionsystem and manage food markets. The MoIT also needs to strengthen marketmanagement and prevent smuggling, trade fraud, fake goods and the trade of foodwith unclear origins.
The MoIT must also strictlymanage multi-level business and e-commerce activities for food products,especially supplements and nutrition products.
The Prime Minister assigned theMinistry of Health to continue studying and perfecting food safety managementregulations in accordance with international practices.
The ministry must also enhanceinspections and handling of violations regarding the advertising of supplementproducts and food additives, while boosting inspections of food safetymanagement in centrally-run provinces and cities.
Meanwhile, the Ministry ofAgriculture and Rural Development will direct localities to promote thedevelopment of safe farm produce regions, food production and trade chains, andwholesale markets.
The ministry must strengthenthe management of plant protection drugs, veterinary drugs, fertilizers, animalfeeds and slaughter of cattle and small poultry.
Vietnam had made progress incontrolling food safety in recent years, according to the directive. However,there were still many challenges left to ensuring food safety because thecountry mainly relied on small-scale food production.
To improve the efficiency offood safety management, the Prime Minister has requested ministries,ministerial-level agencies and people's committees to take responsibility forfood safety while strengthening inspections and handling of food safetyviolations.
At the same time, they mustpromote administrative reforms and IT applications to create favourableconditions for food production and trade enterprises to implement thoseadministrative procedures./.
VNA
