Nearly 6,000 food safety violations detected in the first six months of 2026

Speaking at a professional seminar, Dr. Chu Quoc Thinh, Director of the Vietnam Food Administration (Ministry of Health), reported that in the first six months of 2026, central and local authorities established 5,184 inspection teams, auditing 118,009 food production and trading facilities. A total of 5,695 violations were detected, accounting for 4.83% of all inspected units.

According to Dr. Chu Quoc Thinh, specialized inspections serve as the backbone of the state management system, preventing low-quality, unverified, or contaminated food from entering the supply chain. These activities are vital for identifying process flaws and effectively preventing large-scale food poisoning incidents.

Dr. Chu Quoc Thinh, Director of the Vietnam Food Administration, speaking at the seminar 'Training on specialized food safety inspection in the new era - Status and solutions'.

Inspection efforts create a deterrent effect, forcing businesses to strictly adhere to hygiene regulations, invest in equipment, and rigorously control input materials. Senior Lieutenant Colonel and Associate Professor Dr. Pham Tien Dung, Head of the Economic Police Department at the People's Police Academy, stated that food safety remains a 'hot' area targeted by the Police Department for Corruption, Economic, and Smuggling Crimes (C05) since 2025.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Tien Dung noted that the Ministry of Public Security is reviewing and amending legal regulations to meet practical enforcement requirements. He emphasized the necessity of upgrading inspector skills in post-inspection, documentation, and the collection of digital evidence in cyberspace.

Senior Lieutenant Colonel and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Tien Dung, Head of the Economic Police Department, People's Police Academy.

Dr. Nguyen Tuan Khanh, Vice Rector of the Inspectorate Training School, affirmed that the seminar aims to create a forum for in-depth exchange on training methods and professional standards for food safety inspection in the current climate.

Dr. Nguyen Tuan Khanh, Vice Rector of the Inspectorate Training School.

Dr. Luong Thi Phuong Lan (University of Medicine and Pharmacy, VNU) proposed shifting the training focus from purely punitive measures to guiding businesses in self-identifying and correcting violations. She recommended increasing practical scenarios and integrating digital data across agencies to optimize inspection efficiency.

Experts agreed that enhancing the professional qualifications of inspection staff is critical to protecting public health. The Ministry of Health is currently finalizing the draft Law on Food Safety (amended) to manage the supply chain effectively and accelerate digital transformation.