Draft Law on Food Safety (Amended) Presented to National Assembly with 6 Key Policy Innovations
The Ministry of Health has presented the draft amended Food Safety Law to the National Assembly, focusing on 6 core policies to modernize management and risk control in the food supply chain.
On the morning of October 24, at the second session of the 16th National Assembly, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan, authorized by the Prime Minister, presented the draft of the amended Law on Food Safety. The draft focuses on six core policy groups aimed at reforming management methods and strengthening risk control to enhance state oversight.
Minister Dao Hong Lan emphasized that after more than 15 years of implementation, the current Food Safety Law has revealed shortcomings such as fragmented management models that fail to align with international standards. In particular, the rise of e-commerce has created significant legal gaps that require urgent resolution.
The new draft comprises 9 chapters and 74 articles. The first policy focuses on risk-based control across the entire supply chain—from primary production (cultivation, husbandry, fishing) to market distribution. Regulations will specifically address residue limits for chemicals, veterinary drugs, and pesticides, while intensifying post-market surveillance.
Secondly, the draft prioritizes reducing administrative procedures, shifting from pre-inspection to post-market inspection. Thirdly, it promotes the digitization of food safety data, integrating product lifecycles and inspection results into a national database. Fourthly, it tightens oversight of e-commerce platforms, online food delivery services, and street food vendors.
Fifthly, the draft aims to unify the state management apparatus, designating the Ministry of Health as the lead agency. Sixthly, it establishes legal principles for risk analysis and classifies food based on risk levels to implement appropriate control measures.
