The People's Committee of Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, has fined the renowned Nguyen Ninh green rice cake producer VND 40 million (approximately $1,700) for four food safety violations.

During a surprise inspection on January 2, an interagency task force found the following issues at Nguyen Ninh’s facility at 11 Hang Than Street, Hanoi:

The production process did not follow a one-way principle, from raw materials to the finished product.

The production area and storage facilities were exposed to pests and harmful animals.

Storage areas lacked proper shelves, signage, and hygiene protocols.

Workers handling food were not equipped with adequate protective gear.

Authorities ordered Nguyen Ninh to address these issues immediately to ensure food safety compliance.

The owner has since paid the fine, submitted the required production and business documentation, and voluntarily dismantled the current production area to rebuild it according to safety standards.

The violations were uncovered during an unannounced inspection by the interagency task force, which has been directed by the Hanoi People’s Committee to implement surprise checks without prior notice or district-level selection of facilities.

According to Dang Thanh Phong, Director of the Hanoi Food Safety and Hygiene Department, this approach ensures unbiased assessments and better oversight.

While the task force conducts inspections, it delegates enforcement actions, such as fines, to district authorities. In Nguyen Ninh’s case, the Ba Dinh District People’s Committee has been tasked with ensuring that the facility rectifies its violations and reports back to the task force.

Phuong Thuy