Review of shortcomings in functional food safety management

(Chinhphu.vn) - Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long requested the Ministry of Health to review and clearly report on the limitations and shortcomings in current regulations on food safety management for functional food products.

Reviewing shortcomings in current regulations on food safety management for functional food products.

The Government Office has just issued Document No. 4704/VPCP-KGVX dated May 28, 2025 conveying the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long on handling information reflecting on the management of functional foods.

The document stated: On May 15, 2025, the Government Electronic Information Portal issued a document reporting to the Prime Minister on press information reflecting the management of functional foods.

According to the article titled "The system of inspection and licensing of functional foods: Many loopholes, easily manipulated", from the case of discovering hundreds of fake functional foods, the police agency is continuing to expand the investigation of violations related to the system of "backing" fake functional foods, causing serious harm to the community, increasing public outrage. From this case, the investigation agency determined that the system of inspection and licensing for the functional food industry has many loopholes. The formalistic, opaque and easily manipulated approach has turned a field directly related to human health into a fertile ground for interest groups and corruption to operate.

In response to the above reflection, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long requested the Ministry of Health to review and clearly report on the limitations and shortcomings in current regulations on food safety management for functional food products, in which it is important to clearly identify issues that are not yet strict, have loopholes, and are easily exploited and manipulated to violate regulations and not ensure food safety.

On that basis, the Ministry of Health shall preside over and coordinate with relevant agencies to immediately implement solutions to overcome the problem according to their functions, tasks and authority; promptly report to competent authorities in cases exceeding their authority; at the same time review, complete, and have specific regulations, policies and measures to improve the effectiveness of managing this type of product when submitting to the Government the Draft Decree amending Decree No. 15/2018/ND-CP detailing the implementation of the Law on Food Safety.

Phuong Nhi

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/ra-soat-bat-cap-trong-quan-ly-an-toan-thuc-pham-chuc-nang-102250528161514314.htm