VietNamNet Bridge – An immediate food violation reporting system will be launched in Hanoi by 2020 to ensure food safety, according to the municipal People’s Committee.

Clean vegetables are sold at a supermarket in Hanoi. - VNA/VNS Photo Diep Truong

The inter-sector system allows health, industry-trade, agriculture-rural development sectors and authorities at district, ward and town levels to receive food-related reports and issue warnings.

The first level warning station is located at the Food Safety and Hygiene Division under the city’s Health Department.

The second level warning station is located at district level’s clinics, with the third at ward’s clinics.

The second and third levels are in charge of receiving food problem reports, inspecting them and reporting them to higher levels.

According to the city’s Market Surveillance Division, the reports can be received through phones, text messages and emails.

Officials must report incidents to the system within two hours of the incidents being discovered. Urgent food safety incidents must be inspected and addressed within 24 hours.

The sectors will mobilise forces to deal with incidents and respond to food poisoning. Punishments for violations will be publicised widely.

In the first half of this year, some 1,600 food business facilities were subjected to fines for food safety violations worth a total of more than VND4.4 billion (US$191,300).

In late August, the city’s centre of investment, commerce and tourism promotion and the Japan International Co-operation Agency launched nongsanantoanhanoi.gov.vn to introduce safe farm produce addresses to the city’s residents.

The city has 65 safe food chains. 128 supermarkets, 454 markets and 600 convenience stores selling safe farm produce.

Source: VNS