Hanoi City Council Member Questions Persistent Misuse of Pesticides in Local Agriculture
A Hanoi City Council member demands accountability for poor pesticide oversight after discovering empty chemical containers, despite previous formal warnings.
On the morning of July 15, 2026, during the Hanoi City Council questioning session, delegate Nguyen Van Thuong (delegation group 12) drew significant attention by bringing collected pesticide containers to the floor to question the Chairman of Phuc Loi Ward.
The delegate emphasized that despite the misuse of pesticides and violations of safety intervals being raised during the mid-2025 session, these issues persist after more than a year, raising serious concerns regarding local food safety.
Delegate Nguyen Van Thuong directed questions to ward leadership regarding administrative oversight and local supervision. He demanded that local authorities clarify the number of directive documents issued, inspection plans implemented, and specific measures taken against violating agricultural households.
These ongoing gaps in pesticide management are viewed as critical safety vulnerabilities that directly impact the quality of agricultural produce supplied to the public.
Responding to these concerns, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Hang, Chairwoman of Phuc Loi Ward, acknowledged the feedback and accepted responsibility for local management. According to Ms. Hang, the ward currently oversees approximately 30 households farming vegetables on a small, self-sufficient scale.
From 2025 to mid-2026, the local authority conducted 12 awareness campaigns and issued numerous guidance documents on proper pesticide application. However, Ms. Hang affirmed that the ward would focus on more aggressive enforcement to prevent the recurrence of these violations.
Previously, during the 2025 session, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Dai - then Director of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development - confirmed the difficulty in controlling pesticide usage in mixed-use areas like Phuc Loi Ward.
The Department committed to strengthening inspections and transitioning small-scale plots into specialized agricultural zones to apply more rigorous food safety standards, protecting public health and the reputation of the capital's produce.