Prime Minister emphasizes unified food safety management authority in the amended Law draft

On the afternoon of October 24, during the National Assembly's group discussion, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung provided critical guidance regarding the draft Law on Food Safety (amended). The Prime Minister emphasized that the overarching goal of the draft is to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of state management while facilitating business operations.

One of the most groundbreaking changes proposed by the Government is the transition to risk-based management, supply chain management, and the acceleration of digital transformation. Notably, the core aspect is the establishment of a unified management authority. Accordingly, the Ministry of Health will serve as the primary agency responsible for state management of food safety. At the local level, the Departments of Health and communal-level culture and social affairs offices will be responsible for implementation, with specialized personnel added to ensure oversight capacity.

The Prime Minister affirmed: 'This perspective ensures high consistency in state management. When fields are consolidated under one umbrella, only one agency is responsible for leading the effort.' Additionally, the Government will continue to review regulations regarding business rights, food safety conditions, and post-market surveillance mechanisms to ensure fairness.

Regarding violation control, the Prime Minister stated that responsibility lies not only with state management agencies but also requires the participation of the Vietnam Standards and Consumers Association and legitimate businesses. Violations of standards must be strongly contested. In urgent cases concerning public health, suspension or temporary cessation measures must be promptly executed based on feedback from the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the public.