Raising the standards for food markets.

In accordance with Plan No. 58/KH-UBND of the Provincial People's Committee on the construction of food markets meeting food safety regulations in the province for the period 2022–2025, the Department of Industry and Trade has implemented a comprehensive set of solutions to complete, maintain, and improve food safety criteria, with a focus on building safe food markets.

Dien Bien Market (Thanh Hoa City) meets the criteria for a food market.

Accordingly, the Department of Industry and Trade has issued documents to urge, guide, and resolve difficulties and obstacles in each locality in the process of maintaining and building safe food markets and food retail stores. At the same time, it has assigned working groups to work in all 27 districts, towns, and cities, directly surveying markets throughout the province to inspect and guide the construction and maintenance of criteria according to the national standards for food markets developed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade . In addition, the department has also established appraisal teams to conduct assessments and evaluations of food market criteria for temporary markets and markets of categories 1 and 2 in the province. Along with the industry and trade sector, the People's Committees of districts, towns, and cities are also actively guiding businesses managing and operating markets to implement the process of building and maintaining safe food markets. In particular, the targets for constructing food processing markets are included by localities as one of the goals and plans for socio-economic development.

Thanks to the active involvement of the industry and trade sector and the effective implementation of solutions by localities in maintaining and improving standards, food trading markets in the province have achieved many positive results. To date, 366 out of 388 markets in the province meet the standards for food trading markets, reaching 90%. Of these, 250 markets have completed the declaration of conformity to national standards for food trading markets, and 15 out of 17 temporary markets have been assessed and recognized as food trading markets, achieving 53% of the plan.

According to the Department of Industry and Trade's assessment, most markets meeting the criteria for food trading markets have ensured good compliance with requirements, from infrastructure to maintaining cleanliness in the food trading area. Accordingly, some general requirements for food trading establishments in these markets include: maintaining cleanliness in the food trading area and walkways around the stalls; having sufficient and clean equipment to ensure safety and proper food storage in accordance with the manufacturer's requirements and the specifics of the products being traded; not using or trading food additives, detergents, disinfectants, or sterilizers of unknown origin... In particular, products must have a clear origin; and there must be records of contracts, invoices, documents, and information related to the purchase and sale of products. In these markets, food safety management and supervision teams have also been established to implement regulations such as signing food safety commitments, conducting health checks, and providing training on food safety knowledge. Many markets have been doing a good job of maintaining the criteria for food-related markets, such as: Tan An - Tan Binh market ( Thanh Hoa City); Thong market, Dong Ly market and Don market in Nghi Son town; Vinh market (Hoang Hoa); Ngoc Lien market, Dong Thinh market and Phuc Thinh market (Ngoc Lac); Cam Yen market (Cam Thuy); Quang Xuong town market (Quang Xuong)...

Although the construction of food-related markets has received attention, guidance, and a planned roadmap, it has not met the requirements, and progress is slower than planned. In some markets that have been certified as meeting food-related market standards, there is still a problem of dilapidated infrastructure, a lack of attention to hygiene, and inconsistent and ineffective food traceability and food safety monitoring. In some localities, markets still operate outside of planned areas, giving rise to spontaneous business hotspots that encroach on roads and sidewalks, causing traffic congestion, detracting from aesthetics, polluting the environment, and failing to ensure food safety and hygiene.

To maintain and improve the criteria for sustainable food markets, the Department of Industry and Trade will continue to monitor the maintenance of these criteria for markets that have already been evaluated and recognized as such. Regular training conferences will be organized to guide localities with operating markets included in the provincial market development plan, as well as representatives of market management boards and food safety monitoring teams, on maintaining and improving the quality of food market criteria. Simultaneously, the Department will direct the People's Committees of communes and towns, and market management boards to regularly inspect and remind food safety monitoring teams to fulfill their roles and responsibilities in monitoring food hygiene and safety in markets. In addition to the responsibility of the management unit, the cooperation of the traders themselves is crucial. Only with such cooperation can the development of food markets achieve tangible results, contributing to the development of trade in a civilized and modern direction and protecting the health and rights of consumers.

Text and photos: Chi Pham

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/kinh-te/nang-cao-tieu-chi-cho-kinh-doanh-thuc-pham/209192.htm