Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra: Prioritizing Public Health in Food Safety Management
At the NA Standing Committee meeting, Deputy PM Pham Thi Thanh Tra emphasized that revising the Food Safety Law must prioritize public health, clarify management responsibilities, and control risks.
During the discussion on the draft Law on Food Safety (amended) at the 6th session of the National Assembly Standing Committee (NA Standing Committee) on the afternoon of September 24, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra, on behalf of the Government, emphasized the importance of establishing a robust and modern legal framework for food safety management.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the draft Law on Food Safety (amended) is a complex legislative task with a broad scope, directly impacting both consumer health and the operations of millions of businesses. In the context of globalized food supply chains and the rapid growth of e-commerce, the management system must be modernized to reflect current realities.
The Government has identified the Ministry of Health as the lead agency, requiring clear delineation of coordination functions between ministries, sectors, and local authorities. The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the perspective of prioritizing public health and rights, shifting management methods toward proactive risk prevention and control from the source. Lifecycle product management data systems must be seamlessly connected to avoid fragmentation between regulatory agencies.
In addition to tightening responsibilities, the draft law aims to create a transparent and equitable business environment, preventing 'group interests' or administrative bottlenecks for enterprises. The Government remains committed to finalizing regulations regarding pre-market and post-market controls, ensuring consistency with international practices while accelerating administrative reform and decentralization in legal enforcement.