It's important to understand 'FDA certification' correctly to avoid misleading advertising.

Many businesses have used FDA certification as a "shield" to conceal the true quality of their products.

Experts talk about FD A certification.

In the context of consumers' increasing concern for health and food safety, many products on the Vietnamese market are being advertised as having certifications such as "US FDA certification".

This stems from the view that obtaining FDA certification from the United States demonstrates that goods are of high quality and recognized by a reputable market like the United States.

In fact, consumers can easily come across flowery advertisements such as "FDA-approved product," "FDA-certified," or even certificates with red stamps and eye-catching logos proudly displayed in stores and on websites.

The use of documents bearing the name "FDA certification" to promote products has become common. Many businesses and distributors exploit the consumer's preference for foreign goods and trust in international standards, easily drawing them into a cycle of blind faith. However, not all consumers truly understand the real value of this "FDA certification."

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), headquartered in Washington D.C., USA, was established in 1906. (Photo: FDA)

First and foremost, it's important to recognize objectively that the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) is a leading and reputable regulatory agency worldwide in the fields of food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. The FDA will manage and oversee these products as they circulate in the U.S. market.

For food products, and specifically for certain items like dietary supplements, nutritional milk powder, and cosmetics, FDA approval is not required or necessary before they can be marketed. So what exactly are the FDA certificates that Vietnamese food businesses are advertising?

According to Ms. Nguyen Man, a certification expert at Gglobal, many food manufacturers are currently advertising that they have obtained FDA certification. However, in reality, the FDA does not issue quality certificates for individual food products imported into the United States.

Instead, the FDA only requires manufacturing and business establishments to register their information with the agency. After completing the registration, the business will receive a registration confirmation number. However, this is not a certificate that the product has been tested, inspected, or approved for quality.

The FDA does not issue certificates or “FDA certifications” as a formal license. Instead, the FDA requires businesses to register their manufacturing facilities (Food Facility Registration) or list their products, depending on the type of product (food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, medical devices, etc.).

This is merely proof that the business has registered its manufacturing facility with the FDA. In other words, it's just a procedure to declare information about the manufacturing facility, a first step before the business can begin selling its products in the US. The actual distribution of the product in the US market will require going through many other procedures.

"FDA certification or any notarized translation with red stamps and flashy logos does not reflect the legal validity of product quality ," said Ms. Nguyen Man.

FDA certification cannot prove the quality and safety of a product; it is merely a declaration procedure for goods intended for export to the United States. (Image for illustration purposes only, from the FDA)

Prevent the misuse of false advertising.

Speaking with a reporter from the Industry and Trade Newspaper, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ha, Head of Communications at Hai Yen Food Company, said that recently, her company had received offers to obtain FDA certification from several certification bodies.

These people argue that FDA certification is a commitment and proof that a company's goods are of good quality and capable of entering the US market. This also means that opportunities to enter other markets are more open.

However, after carefully reviewing the information on the FDA's official website, Ms. Ha's company was surprised to find that the information advertised by the certification body differed significantly from reality.

"The certification body also told us that they could print the certification logo on the product to increase credibility. However, after further investigation, I learned that FDA certification is merely a registration procedure before entering the US market, not a commitment or guarantee of quality as they were advertising," said Ms. Nguyen Thi Ha.

Sharing her views on this issue, expert Nguyen Man stated that the misuse and exaggeration of the value of FDA certificates not only misleads consumers but also poses numerous health risks.

Expert Nguyen Man advises consumers not to let the misuse of foreign certificates and certifications lead to false advertising. When encountering products advertised as "FDA-approved," ask the business to provide the facility's registration number with the FDA and verify it on the official FDA website. Always remember that the FDA only verifies facility registration, not inspects individual products.

" At the same time, it is time for authorities to tighten management and strictly handle acts of false advertising, contributing to building a more transparent, fair, and safe market for everyone , " Ms. Nguyen Man advised.

In November 2023, VTV broadcast a report reflecting on the case of Yarmy milk products from Huyen Chi Ngoc Joint Stock Company, which showed many irregularities in advertising, with many users experiencing stomach pain and diarrhea.

It's worth noting that Yarmy milk products are advertised as being FDA-certified, and the FDA logo is printed on the product to attract consumers.

However, according to Mr. Tran Quang Trung, Chairman of the Vietnam Dairy Association, the FDA does not allow businesses to print their logos on product labels. Yarmy Dairy Company is also not included in the list of businesses belonging to the Vietnam Dairy Association that have been granted FDA approval.

Phong Lam

Source: https://congthuong.vn/can-hieu-dung-ve-chung-nhan-fda-tranh-loi-dung-quang-cao-sai-384931.html