The Vietnamese government has asked the ministries of Health, Public Security, Agriculture and Rural Development to impose higher fines on food safety violations to ensure local people’s health, state media reported Jan 5. Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan made the statement at a recent meeting with the ministries to announce a communication project on food safety in the 2011-2013 period. Under the project, the agriculture, the industry and trade sectors will take drastic measures against unoriginal and low-quality foods, while the Health Ministry will work out solutions to fight against substandard food additives and materials. The ministries of Health, Industry and Trade, Transport have been authorized to issue punishment standards of vehicles illegally transporting foods, poultry and cattle products. The health ministry will inspect food safety and hygiene nationwide ahead of the coming Lunar New Year 2011 or Tet holiday with the focus on producers and traders of confectionery, jams, soft drinks, meat-related products. In fact, more and more toxic chemicals have been found in food samples in recent times, raising the public concerns over food safety and hygiene, experts noted. Vietnam recorded 132 food poisoning cases in 2010, affecting 4,700 people including 41 deaths, the General Statistics Office said. (Phap Luat TP.HCM – HCM City Law Jan 5 p2)
