Food shortages have been resolved, but concerns remain.

The government has just issued Resolution No. 09/2026/NQ-CP, which promptly resolved the congestion and contributed to "rescuing" hundreds of thousands of tons of food that were piling up at border gates and seaports, receiving high praise from the business community.

However, the risk of bottlenecks may recur after April 15, 2026, if the core shortcomings of the policy are not addressed fundamentally, a concern shared by many business associations.

Is this a temporary solution?

Government Decree No. 46/2026/ND-CP dated January 26, 2026, detailing the implementation of several articles and measures to organize and guide the implementation of the Food Safety Law, along with Resolution No. 66.13/2026/NQ-CP regulating the announcement and registration of food products through post-inspection and risk management, has given rise to many practical difficulties.

At the workshop "Removing Obstacles in Implementing New Policies and Laws on Food Safety" organized by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) on the morning of February 6th, Mr. Dau Anh Tuan, Deputy Secretary General and Head of the Legal Department of VCCI, stated that the Government's issuance of Decree 46 and Resolution 66.13 demonstrates a significant effort to improve the effectiveness of state management of food safety, aiming to tighten loopholes and strengthen responsibility in food production and distribution.

Customs officers are focusing their efforts on accelerating the customs clearance process at Tan Thanh Border Gate ( Lang Son ). Photo: THUY LINH

However, after just over a week of implementation, the new regulations have revealed many difficulties; the transition period is too short, the inspection process is complex, and there is a lack of specific guidance in enforcement. In particular, many businesses have not yet fully understood the changes compared to the previous Decree No. 15/2018/ND-CP, nor have they adequately assessed the resulting costs and new technical requirements impacting their production, import, and distribution activities.

Mr. Dau Anh Tuan highly appreciated the Government's timely decision to issue Resolution No. 09/2026/NQ-CP, temporarily suspending the effectiveness of Decree 46 and Resolution 66.13 until April 15, 2026, in the current context. This decision demonstrates a proactive spirit, listening to and supporting businesses, contributing to resolving bottlenecks at border gates and seaports, ensuring that the supply chain is not disrupted, especially during the peak period leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year).

While agreeing with the above assessment, representatives of business associations argue that Resolution 09 is only a temporary solution. Meanwhile, the deadline of April 15, 2026 is approaching, and the core shortcomings of the policy remain unresolved. According to feedback from the business community, Decree 46 and Resolution 66.13 are causing the pre-approval mechanism to become "bloated," administrative procedures to overlap, and contradicting the spirit of reform.

There is a need to strengthen local enforcement capacity.

From a business perspective, Ms. Ly Kim Chi, President of the Ho Chi Minh City Food and Beverage Association (FFA), stated that the food industry business community fully supports the goal of ensuring food safety, because product reputation and the survival of businesses are closely linked to consumer trust.

However, what businesses are concerned about is the policy approach and its practical implementation. The short timeframe for implementing new regulations has left both businesses and local authorities bewildered, given the increased workload and professional demands.

According to FFA representatives, in addition to acknowledging the government's efforts in postponing the implementation date, a thorough assessment of the local management system's implementation capacity is necessary. The regulations in Decree 46 and Resolution 66.13 place high demands on dossier review, verification, and inter-agency coordination, while many localities are in the process of reorganizing their administrative structures, posing a risk of overload and bottlenecks if not adequately prepared in terms of human resources, expertise, and other resources.

Regarding recommendations for implementing food safety policies and laws, Mr. Dau Anh Tuan suggested that regulations should be developed with a risk management and post-inspection approach, avoiding a scattered approach. Policies should focus on high-risk stages rather than widespread inspections. New procedures should only be enacted when their effectiveness in protecting food safety is clearly demonstrated, while not disrupting the supply chain or increasing unnecessary costs for businesses.

Furthermore, it is necessary to shift from a "registration-testing of each product" model to comprehensive management along the food value chain, from farm to table. Simultaneously, it is crucial to strengthen local enforcement capacity, ensuring sufficient human resources, expertise, budget, and time to implement policies effectively and consistently, avoiding inconsistent interpretations and applications. At the same time, promoting digital transformation and data linkages between management agencies is essential to increase transparency, reduce overlapping procedures, improve inspection efficiency, and enhance food traceability.

Food safety is a crucial and strategic issue for public health, directly impacting the competitiveness of Vietnamese products and their ability to integrate internationally. Therefore, food safety policies and laws are not merely technical matters but also have a profound impact on the entire production-business-consumption chain of the economy.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/thao-go-un-u-thuc-pham-nhung-noi-lo-van-con-5076750.html