Hanoi Launches Three Hotlines to Deal with Food Safety Violations

Authorities in Vietnam’s capital city of Hanoi have launched three new hotlines that will be used to gather public information about food safety violations, the online newspaper VnExpress said in a report. The three hotlines connect to the Department of Industry and Trade (1900585826), the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (043 3800115) and the Department of Health (043 998 5765). Hanoi has about 60,000 businesses working in food-related areas, and more than 400 markets and 90 supermarkets, said the Department of Health. The local authorities find difficult to monitor and control food safety issues. So far this year, authorities have detected more than 7,800 violations and imposed administrative fines of VND13 billion ($585,000). Some officials said that it is difficult for them to monitor and trace the origin of food sold at local markets and small stalls. (VnExpress.net May 18)