The Government Directs Comprehensive Reform in Food Safety Management and Assurance

The Government Office has recently issued Notice No. 384/TB-VPCP regarding the conclusions of Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra at the meeting of the Inter-sectoral Steering Committee on Food Safety. The Deputy PM affirmed that this work is of special significance, directly impacting human health, the quality of human resources, and national competitiveness.

Despite positive results, concerns remain regarding the increasing trend of food poisoning, especially in educational institutions. Managing food business activities on e-commerce platforms and social networks remains a significant challenge. Consequently, the Government has identified the health and trust of consumers as the core goal to innovate management methods and promote digital transformation based on common data platforms.

Legally, the Deputy PM requested the Ministry of Health to urgently lead the development of the draft Law on Food Safety (amended) to be submitted to the 16th National Assembly at its second session. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice will coordinate the review of regulations on technical standards and advertising to ensure consistency and uniformity in the legal system.

Regarding food poisoning prevention, especially in educational institutions, a Prime Ministerial Directive will soon be issued. The Ministry of Education and Training will collaborate with the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Health to finalize the draft. Management responsibilities will be clearly defined, with strict monitoring by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development regarding origin traceability.

In terms of communication, the Deputy PM proposed establishing a National Communication Program on Food Safety. Organizations such as the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the Vietnam Women's Union are encouraged to develop models like '3-No, 5-Clean households' and 'all people say no to dirty food' to tangibly change societal behavior.

The Ministry of Health is tasked with leading and coordinating with ministries and agencies to carry out digital transformation decisively. Simultaneously, localities must ensure specialized job positions for food safety at the commune level, with financial support from the Ministry of Finance to enhance local monitoring capacity.

Inspection and examination efforts will be tightened. The Ministry of Public Security continues to focus on suppressing crimes related to the production and trade of counterfeit, imitation, and substandard food products. Handling violations in catering services and street food in rural areas will be performed regularly and strictly.

The Deputy PM also directed the preparation of professional documents to be provided to associations and mass organizations to create a widespread support network, helping ensure that food safety efforts reach deeper and spread throughout the community.