Urgent need to revise national technical regulations for processed dairy products

(Chinhphu.vn) - Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Truong Thanh Hoai emphasized this at the workshop with the theme "National technical regulations for processed dairy products: Concepts and product classification", taking place on the morning of August 15 at the Ministry's headquarters.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Truong Thanh Hoai: National technical regulations on milk were issued 15 years ago, but many contents are no longer suitable.

The workshop was attended by representatives of relevant ministries, associations and businesses to discuss, unify concepts, definitions and classify dairy products in a clear and transparent manner.

According to the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, along with economic growth, health and nutrition issues are increasingly concerned. Currently, Vietnamese people's milk consumption demand is about 27 liters/person/year and is forecast to continue to increase.

Meanwhile, the national technical regulations on milk were issued 15 years ago, but many of the contents are no longer suitable for scientific and technological advances as well as health protection requirements in the new period. Therefore, revision, supplementation and updating are necessary to meet international regulations and the development practices of the dairy industry.

Inadequacies in current regulations

According to Mr. Nguyen Manh Dat, Deputy Director of the Institute of Food Industry (Ministry of Industry and Trade), the regulations on liquid milk products currently overlap between QCVN 5-1:2010/BYT and many other standards and circulars of the Ministry of Health. In addition, Vietnam has not yet issued mandatory QCVN for reconstituted milk products.

Mr. Dat also analyzed that QCVN 5-1:2010/BYT classifies 7 types of liquid milk, but the definition of "sterilized milk" includes both reconstituted milk and remixed milk, leading to confusion. In addition, the standard does not specify the fat content - a factor commonly used in the world to classify products (whole milk, semi-fat milk, skim milk).

Mr. Nguyen Manh Dat, Deputy Director of the Institute of Food Industry: The regulations on liquid milk products currently overlap between QCVN 5-1:2010/BYT and many other standards and circulars of the Ministry of Health.

At the workshop, Deputy Minister Truong Thanh Hoai said that based on the Law on Food Safety, the Law on Product and Goods Quality, the Decrees guiding the Law, and based on the functions and tasks of industry management, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has a plan to develop and promulgate national technical regulations for dairy products.

National technical regulations are developed in accordance with the principles of the International Codex Alimentarius Commission, and at the same time, refer to the regulations of countries around the world and in the region; consider and select advanced world standards suitable for practical conditions in Vietnam.

The draft standards must include the contents in accordance with regulations; the content of traceability and product labeling must be specific in the definition of the name to avoid misleading consumers and ensure transparency in production and business.

In addition, the content of the regulations is easy to understand, easy to apply, and harmonizes the quality assurance requirements of consumers and the sustainable development goals of enterprises. The process of developing and promulgating national technical regulations complies with the provisions of law.

At the workshop, Vinamilk representative proposed to use the definition of pasteurized and sterilized fresh milk according to TCVN 11216:2015; not requiring a minimum raw fresh milk ratio of 90% if there are regulations on milk protein content. For skimmed fresh milk products, it is allowed to add sugar or other ingredients such as fruit juice, cocoa, coffee, etc.

A representative of TH True Milk Group said that the current draft standard for raw fresh milk has a definition of "not processed by any other method". However, in reality, raw fresh milk will still be cooled, so it is recommended that the draft be adjusted to "except for cooling" or explain this definition more clearly.

Anh Tho

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/cap-thiet-sua-doi-quy-chuan-ky-thuat-quoc-gia-cho-san-pham-sua-che-bien-102250815150916163.htm