Food Safety Control Solutions: From Farm to Table
Management agencies and enterprises in HCMC are promoting supply chain linkage models to strictly control agricultural quality from the source.
The presence of pesticide residues in vegetables and the use of prohibited substances in livestock farming remain significant concerns for the Ho Chi Minh City market. Pham Khanh Phong Lan, Director of the HCMC Department of Food Safety, emphasized that controlling quality directly at the production source is the key to preventing risks before food reaches consumers.
According to Ms. Lan, without strict management at the production level, post-inspection at markets and businesses becomes overloaded and ineffective. To address this, HCMC is actively promoting the 'Safe Food Chain' project and cooperating closely with the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development in various provinces for the 2026-2030 period, encouraging school canteens and industrial zones to source transparent ingredients.
Representatives from the HCMC Sub-Department of Animal Health also warned about manual slaughtering practices lacking traceability, which are used to bypass inspections. Authorities are coordinating to strengthen control points at the city's gateways to promptly detect and intercept substandard shipments.
The 'Farm to Table' model implemented by enterprises like MM Mega Market in Lam Dong is considered a sustainable direction. Nguyen Duc Toan, CEO of MM Mega Market Vietnam, stated that the company is upgrading its procurement system to expand its linkage areas, aiming for 1,000 hectares of standard-compliant farming by 2030.
Kim Myungsu, Commercial Director of MM Mega Market Vietnam, noted that this model not only secures market access for farmers but also helps standardize farming processes, from technical guidance to strict control of safety standards before goods are released to the market.
The Lam Dong Department of Agriculture and Rural Development affirmed that synchronizing planting area codes and applying VietGAP standards are top priorities to enhance the reputation of local agricultural products, laying the foundation for modern and sustainable value chain development.