Vice Chairman of the Bac Giang People’s Committee Le Anh Duong delivers a speech at the conference.

At the event, the steering committee said that food safety management in the locality saw positive changes in the reviewed period. State management agencies on food safety have promoted checks in different sectors while setting up inspection teams to track food origin, tackle food poisoning, prevent alcohol poisoning and other natural toxins as well as stave off animal diseases.

In addition, communications, media and education on food safety were strengthened to mobilise local people to commit producing, selling and using safe vegetables and meat. Nearly 80 percent of local food stores are qualified to meet food hygiene and safety requirements. The agricultural sector has paid heed to building safe production models to provide consumers with high-quality food. Relevant authorities detected 645 establishments violating regulations on food safety and tackle 158 cases, collected a total fine of more than 280 million VND (12,300 USD). There was no food poisoning case reported in the province.

A leader of the Bac Giang Department of Health exchange views at the conference.

According to participants, unhygienic slaughterhouses still operate in the province while unsafe food with doubtful origin is being traded on local markets. They also mentioned lenient supervision on quality of home-made liquor and agro-forestry-fishery products and traders’ low awareness of food safety.

Concluding the conference, Vice Chairman Duong asked localities to promote communications on food hygiene and safety. Local districts and city speed up the development of plans on managing street food vendors and restaurants around industrial zones. Localities are also asked to study and issue standards for local typical products like Van village wine, Yen The tea and Luc Ngan fruit.

The provincial Department of Sciences and Technology is urged to give advice to evaluating the hydroponic vegetable production model to have recommendations for development, Duong said, adding that food safety checks at establishments producing and trading beverages and agro-forestry-fishery products and restaurants should be enhanced. He stressed that the fight against trade fraud and counterfeit goods must come into sharp focus. In the second quarter of 2017, relevant authorities need to control fresh food stores at local markets.

Visual images on food safety should be used in communication campaigns at communes/wards. Both prestigious food stores and violated ones must be made public. 

Popularisation of the Action Month for Food Safety from April 15 to May 15, themed “Safe fresh food production, trade and consumption, liquor management and prevention of alcohol poisoning”, should be paid significant attention.

By Minh Thu