The National Competition Commission and the UK Product Safety and Standards Authority held a “Workshop to share UK experiences on recalling defective products, product safety and coordination mechanisms between relevant agencies”

The workshop had the participation and direct sharing from OPSS experts, representatives of the National Competition Commission, the Vietnam Consumer Protection Association, Consumer Protection Associations of some provinces and cities in the Northern region, as well as representatives of some agencies under the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Department of Industry and Trade of Hanoi City. The workshop was an opportunity for officials and civil servants of relevant state management agencies and Consumer Protection Associations in Vietnam to access and discuss in more depth about legal regulations, methods of analyzing cases, conducting recalls of defective products, risk management models, coordination mechanisms between functional agencies, as well as technical tools in monitoring and early warning of unsafe products on the market.

Delegates attending the “UK Product Recall Sharing Workshop”
defective products, product safety and coordination mechanisms among relevant agencies”

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Ms. Nguyen Quynh Anh, Vice President of the National Competition Commission, emphasized the importance of consumer rights protection for the development of society in general and the economy in particular, with one of the main pillars being ensuring product safety - a factor directly related to the rights, health and lives of consumers as well as the reputation of businesses.

Ms. Nguyen Quynh Anh, Vice Chairman of the National Competition Commission, delivered the opening speech.
Seminar

Ms. Nguyen Quynh Anh said that in recent times, the Vietnamese State has had many important directions and orientations in improving the effectiveness of product safety management, in which the National Competition Commission - the state management agency at the central level and the Department of Industry and Trade - the state management agency at the provincial level, are assigned to perform many key tasks related to monitoring and handling violations of consumer rights, including monitoring the recall of defective products and goods on the market. This work is also carried out by many related units such as agencies on market management and development, e-commerce, quality management, product and goods, product safety and Consumer Protection Associations across the country.
nationwide
Sharing at the Workshop, Ms. Jaipal Basi, Head of OPSS International Cooperation Department, appreciated the cooperation between OPSS and the National Competition Commission, affirming that OPSS always puts product safety for consumers first, strives to minimize unwanted/possible harmful effects on consumers, while ensuring a safe and healthy business and consumer environment.

Ms. Jaipal Basi, Head of OPSS International Cooperation Department shared at the Workshop

The workshop took place over 03 days (from 06 - 08 May 2025), focusing on sharing 3 main content groups, including: i) Consumer engagement tools, lessons and case studies from the UK, consumer engagement strategies in Vietnam; ii) Incident Management Team tasks, lessons and case studies from the UK on product recall feedback (e.g. how to classify risks to notify product recall feedback), Vietnam's product recall process and iii) Simulation practice implementing recommendations from UK experts on how to enhance Vietnamese consumers' participation in product recalls.

Experts and delegates share related content

Before going into the in-depth content, OPSS representatives outlined some general information about the system of regulations related to product safety in the UK, the role and function of OPSS in product safety in general, the cooperation between OPSS with the ASEAN region and Vietnam (through the ASEAN Consumer Protection Committee - ACCP) as well as sharing some typical experiences of OPSS in coordinating with relevant agencies and organizations to protect consumer product safety. Accordingly, in addition to central-level specialized management agencies, OPSS also coordinates extensively with a network of local management agencies and a variety of consumer organizations in the process of implementing product safety programs and strategies. The cooperation helps OPSS not only have more sources of information collection but also helps spread programs and campaigns to a large number of consumers.

Experts and delegates share related content

For any incident or product that poses a potential safety risk to consumers, OPSS will develop an Incident Management Plan. Depending on the nature of each specific incident, the plan will be adjusted to suit the reality, including adjustments to the process steps and implementation time. Within the framework of the Workshop, delegates practiced making an incident handling plan when discovering information about a product that poses a potential safety risk to consumers. Delegates practiced from determining the importance of the incident, planning a handling plan as well as drafting warning information to consumers. Through specific practical exercises, delegates had the opportunity to apply the UK's experience in approaching the incident and making recommendations for practical action solutions.

Delegates share at the Workshop

The workshop is one of the first activities to implement the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of consumer protection between the National Competition Commission of Vietnam and competent authorities of the United Kingdom within the framework of the ASEAN-UK Economic Integration Program (EIP) which will be implemented from April 2024 and last for 4 years, contributing to promoting economic growth and enhancing regional integration.

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Source: National Competition Commission

Source: https://moit.gov.vn/tin-tuc/bao-chi-voi-nguoi-dan/uy-ban-canh-tranh-quoc-gia-va-cuc-an-toan-tieu-chuan-san-pham-vuong-quoc-anh-to-chuc-hoi-thao-chia-se-kinh-nghiem-cua-vu.html