VIETNAM – Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) are in the midst of a three-month food safety inspection exercise, conducted in an attempt to strengthen public health safety and protection, particularly during the coming Tet (Lunar New Year) holidays in mid-February.
The city’s interdisciplinary inspection teams have been focusing on a wide range of food and food products since 20 December 2014 - including meat, fish, egg, cakes, sweets and jam, alcohol, beer, soft drinks, pickled vegetables and oily grains.
This inspection exercise will conclude on 10 March 2015.
The HCMC Food Hygiene and Safety Sub-department says the inspection teams will strictly punish importers, producers and traders that violate food safety regulations in all 24 districts of the city.
Nguyen Thi Huynh Mai, deputy head of the agency, has reminded consumers not to buy food items without origin or with unclear origin, or without quality certification, in order to protect themselves and their relatives from poor quality products.
She advised the public to pay attention to the name of the manufacturers, date of manufacturing and date of expiry on food packaging
She also encouraged consumers to report any food safety violations observed and/or detected.
Beyond HCMC, the Central Steering Board for Food Safety has announced that it will set up six inspection teams to check food safety in 12 provinces and cities, including Kien Giang, Ca Mau, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Ha Noi, Lao Cai, Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang, HCM City and Tay Ninh.
Food importers, producers, processors and traders including shops, markets, supermarkets and trade centers will be inspected, while samples of food items that are especially popular during Tet - such as meat, fish, alcohol, beer and confectionary- will be taken for testing in these 12 localities.
