Strengthening management of food production and trading establishments

In order to carry out the assigned tasks, the Department of Industry and Trade has directed specialized departments to review, grasp the situation and activities, coordinate inspection, examination, and post-inspection of food production, processing, and trading establishments under its management, in order to ensure food hygiene and safety and protect consumers.

The provincial interdisciplinary delegation assessed the food safety conditions of WinMart Supermarket, City.

There are currently 10,755 food production and trading establishments in the province under the management of the Department of Industry and Trade. Mr. Nguyen Van Bac, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade, said: Every year, the Department of Industry and Trade has implemented the directives, programs and plans of the Central Government and the province on food safety management. Proactively develop inspection and examination programs and plans for groups of goods assigned to management and at markets, supermarkets and commercial centers. Coordinate with the Provincial Market Management Department, People's Committees of districts, cities and relevant functional forces to step up inspection and handling of violations. Propagate, mobilize and disseminate legal regulations to organizations and individuals producing and trading in food not to trade, transport and trade in smuggled food, fake food, food of unknown origin, poor quality; implement regulations on price listing. In addition, the Department of Industry and Trade also closely coordinates with other inspection teams in the area established by the Provincial Food Safety Steering Committee and districts and cities.

From 2023 to present, the Provincial Food Safety Steering Committee and the Department of Industry and Trade have established 3 interdisciplinary and specialized inspection teams, conducted inspections of 1,191 establishments, recorded 89 violations, and imposed fines of over 254 million VND. The Department of Industry and Trade presided over the inspection and post-inspection of 2 food production establishments and 2 food trading establishments; assessed and issued 4 certificates of qualified establishments.

In early April, the interdisciplinary delegation of the Department of Industry and Trade, the Department of Health, and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development conducted an assessment of food safety conditions for WinMart Supermarket, Vincom Son La Commercial Center, and the City. The delegation inspected the legality of the documents, conducted an on-site assessment, and evaluated the implementation of regulations on food safety-qualified business establishments. According to the assessment delegation, the establishment has complied well with food safety conditions.

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Hiep, Director of WinMart Supermarket, said: WinMart supermarket system has a nationwide brand, the unit is committed to stabilizing prices, ensuring the supply of quality goods, with clear origin, not allowing poor quality goods to occur and absolutely ensuring food hygiene and safety.

Food safety management of the Ministry of Industry and Trade has achieved many positive results in recent times. However, coordination in inspection work between specialized agencies is not really synchronized. Some food production, processing and trading establishments still violate the provisions of the law on food safety. Funding for implementing the purchase of means and tools for rapid testing of some substances; funding for sampling and testing samples has not met the requirements.

To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of state management of food safety, the Department of Industry and Trade requests the Department of Health , the agency in charge of advising competent authorities, to soon complete the organization and apparatus for food safety and security work in the direction of unifying only one advisory agency, helping the Provincial People's Committee to perform the function of state management of food safety in the province to ensure science, strictness and efficiency; overcome the situation of overlap and lax management. Continue to arrange funding sources to carry out hazard monitoring and sample testing of product quality. Organize training for officials in charge of product quality management, improve professional qualifications and management capacity.

Article and photos: Thuy Ngan

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