On the morning of January 8, Colonel Bui Trung Thanh, Deputy Director of the Hai Phong Police Department, confirmed to VietNamNet that nine individuals have been formally charged in connection with the use of diseased pork at Ha Long Canned Food Company (Ha Long Canfoco).

Upon inspection, authorities recorded a total of 120 tons of pork at the site. Testing confirmed all of it was positive for the African swine fever virus.

Inspectors noted that the pork showed signs of spoilage, leaking fluids, and emitting a foul odor.

Police determined that approximately 2 tons of this pork had already been used in production and packaging of canned meat products, including paté labeled “Cot Den Hai Phong”.

Further investigation traced the origin of the infected meat supply, led by the Haiphong Police Department’s division for economic crimes, corruption, and smuggling.

According to the testimony of Nguyen Thi Lan, a resident of Dong Hung commune in Hung Yen province and a key link in the supply chain, the operation had been active for the past six months.

Lan admitted she purchased diseased pigs directly from local farms and resold them to major middlemen. However, she claimed not to have known the final destination of the pork until news of the warehouse raid surfaced.

Authorities have now seized and destroyed the entire 120 tons of infected pork, along with all associated canned products, to prevent the spread of disease and protect public health.

The Hai Phong Police Department has formally charged nine individuals with violations of food safety regulations.

Quang Ninh clarifies information regarding ‘Ha Long Canned Foods’ brand

The Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee has issued an official statement clarifying recent public concerns surrounding the name “Ha Long Canned Foods.”

According to the announcement on January 8, various media outlets and social media platforms have recently featured information regarding a product brand named “Ha Long Canned Foods,” drawing attention and raising questions among citizens and the general public.

In light of this, many people have asked whether the enterprise behind this brand belongs to Quang Ninh Province.

To ensure that residents, visitors, and businesses can access accurate and transparent information, the Quang Ninh authorities clarified that the enterprise operating under the “Ha Long Canned Foods” brand was established and is officially registered in Hai Phong City, in accordance with current Vietnamese law.

The Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee affirmed that this enterprise does not operate within the province’s jurisdiction. Its brand name, although featuring the term “Ha Long,” does not indicate any business presence or production activities in Ha Long City or Quang Ninh Province.

They emphasized that Vietnamese law allows the use of geographical names in business branding if all legal requirements are met. However, using “Ha Long” in a brand name does not automatically imply the enterprise is located in, or affiliated with, Ha Long or Quang Ninh.

The province reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the image and reputation of the name “Ha Long”—a UNESCO World Heritage site - and advised the public to rely on official sources for accurate information, to avoid confusion between the geographic designation and companies using the term in their trade names.

The statement also reaffirmed that all food production and business activities conducted within Quang Ninh Province are strictly regulated, with public health and consumer rights as the top priorities.

Also on January 8, the Hai Phong City Police’s Investigation Department announced that it had initiated criminal proceedings and prosecuted nine suspects in connection with a case involving the use of African swine fever-infected pork in canned food products manufactured at Ha Long Canned Foods Company.

Pham Cong