No leniency for food safety violations.

Hanoi has identified food safety as one of the key "bottlenecks" that requires decisive action to overcome. The strict handling of food safety violations in recent times is evidence of this determination.

A joint inter-agency team from Hanoi inspects a facility's compliance with food safety regulations. Photo: Tung Nguyen.

Take strict action against establishments that violate regulations.

Located in the heart of the northern gateway, with a population of over 117,000 people (the 7th most populous commune/ward in Hanoi), ensuring food safety is a significant challenge for Soc Son commune.

According to Nguyen Van Tuong, Deputy Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Department of Soc Son commune, the local government has closely followed the city's directives and promptly developed and issued documents to implement food safety measures.

Along with strengthening information and communication, Soc Son commune focuses on inspection and supervision. To implement the 2026 Food Safety Action Month, the commune established two inter-agency teams. From mid-April 2026 to the present, these teams have inspected 41 production and business establishments.

Through monitoring, six cases of violations of food safety regulations were recorded. Notably, all six establishments were fined for the violations, with a total amount of 32 million VND collected and remitted to the state budget.

Not only in Soc Son commune, but also in other communes and wards of Hanoi, food safety work has been vigorously implemented during the 2026 Food Safety Action Month. Most violations have been strictly handled by local authorities in accordance with regulations.

Strengthen specialized and unannounced inspections.

In fulfilling its assigned functions and tasks, the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment chaired Inter-agency Inspection Team No. 2, conducting inspections on the implementation and results of the Food Safety Action Month in 42 communes and wards.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hang, Head of the Quality and Market Development Department (Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment), and Deputy Head of the city's Inter-agency Inspection Team No. 2, said that over the past month, they have conducted inspections and evaluated reports from 42 assigned communes and wards.

Inter-agency team No. 2 also monitored the compliance with food safety regulations at 14 production and business establishments. Accordingly, they identified 9 establishments with violations and directly advised the Department to issue penalty decisions against 5 establishments with a total fine of 166 million VND.

For the four other production and business establishments identified as violating food safety regulations, the inspection team instructed the Food Safety Steering Committees of the wards and communes of Lang, Son Dong, Phuc Tho, and An Khanh to impose fines totaling an estimated 238.5 million VND.

According to Ta Van Tuong, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment, ensuring food safety has been a key priority for the city not only during the Food Safety Action Month in 2026 but also from the beginning of 2026 until now.

Along with strictly handling violations of food safety regulations, the city requires communes and wards to publicly disclose establishments that violate food safety regulations on local broadcasting systems and commune/ward websites to increase deterrence.

Joining hands with the city to overcome the "bottleneck" in food safety, Mr. Ta Van Tuong suggested that communes and wards strengthen specialized and surprise inspections; regularly take samples to monitor the quality of agricultural products and food in order to detect risks and provide early warnings.

In monitoring efforts, focus should be placed on essential, widely consumed products and product groups or processes with high risks, such as the use of additives and chemicals in food production and trading. Prompt detection and strict handling of administrative violations related to food safety are crucial.

Representatives from the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment also proposed that the Ministries of Health, Agriculture and Environment, and Industry and Trade consider reviewing and agreeing on supplementary lists and standards for chemicals, antibiotics, veterinary drugs, and pesticides in food products to facilitate management, supervision, inspection, and handling of violations.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/khong-nuong-tay-voi-vi-pham-an-toan-thuc-pham-976392.html