Regulations to know

With the goal of protecting public health, the Government has issued strict regulations on penalties for violations in the food service business sector.

These regulations not only help prevent food contamination incidents but also provide an important legal basis for dealing with acts that are harmful to consumers' health.

Authorities inspect a food business.

According to Decree No. 115/2018/ND-CP of the Government, regulations on administrative sanctions for violations in the field of food safety, violations in the food service business, especially for ready-to-eat food processing establishments, collective kitchens, restaurants, food stores... will be strictly handled.

Common violations include: using unsanitary equipment and utensils to process and preserve food, not following hygiene procedures during processing, using water sources that do not meet quality standards, and not taking measures to prevent cross-contamination between raw and processed foods.

Violations such as displaying or storing food on unsanitary equipment or utensils will be fined from VND 1,000,000 to VND 3,000,000.

Facilities will also be fined if they do not have adequate equipment to process and store fresh and processed foods separately, or if they allow insects or pests to enter the processing area.

Establishments that do not comply or do not comply with the regulations on the three-step food inspection regime or food sample storage will also be fined. The fine ranges from VND3,000,000 to VND5,000,000 depending on the severity of the violation.

Also according to the regulations, establishments that do not comply with regulations on food transportation and preservation, or do not have hand washing areas or toilets will also be fined at the same level.

Particularly serious, establishments that employ people directly processing food without a certificate of training in food safety knowledge will be subject to a fine of VND 5,000,000 to VND 7,000,000.

More serious acts, such as using water that does not meet technical standards for food processing or failing to collect and treat waste and garbage in the processing area, can be fined from VND7,000,000 to VND10,000,000.

Establishments that employ food handlers with infectious diseases such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid, hepatitis A, E, or tuberculosis will be fined from VND10,000,000 to VND15,000,000. This is the highest fine for this behavior, in order to protect consumers' health from the risk of infection through food.

In addition to fines, establishments that violate the law may also have their food production, processing or supply activities suspended for 1 to 3 months, especially for violations related to the use of employees with infectious diseases or failure to ensure food hygiene and safety.

Importantly, the fines in this Decree clearly distinguish between individuals and organizations. For organizations, the fine will be double the fine for individuals.

This means that businesses, restaurants, eateries and food businesses can face huge fines if they are found to be in violation.

The maximum fine for individuals is 100,000,000 VND and for organizations is 200,000,000 VND. However, in case this fine is still lower than 7 times the value of the violating food, the maximum fine will be applied according to 7 times the value of the violating food.

Food service establishments need to pay attention to complying with regulations on food processing and preservation, ensuring hygiene and safety throughout the customer service process.

In particular, employing food safety-knowledgeable staff, implementing three-step inspections, and maintaining a clean environment are key factors in helping establishments avoid fines and ensure public health.

Compliance with food safety regulations not only helps businesses avoid penalties but is also a responsibility to consumers and society. Therefore, each facility needs to actively learn and properly implement regulations to operate sustainably and ensure public health safety.

Strict punishment of violations in the field of food safety is necessary to raise awareness of business establishments and protect the health of consumers.

Food service establishments need to pay special attention to complying with food hygiene regulations, three-step food inspection, and safe processing procedures to avoid serious consequences from these violations.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/xu-phat-vi-pham-an-toan-thuc-pham-cac-quy-dinh-can-biet-d241250.html