In the first 6 months of 2025, the whole province of Son La deployed 143 inspection teams to inspect and examine 627 food production, processing and trading establishments. However, the number of establishments fined is only 4, with a total fine of 17 million VND - a figure considered too modest compared to the actual violation.
At the same time, Son La province recorded 2 cases of food poisoning that caused many hospitalizations, including 1 death.
According to Ms. Trang Thi Xuan - Vice Chairman of Son La Provincial People's Committee - food safety management is still overlapping and ineffective. The management model is not yet unified, and is scattered between three sectors: Health, Agriculture and Environment, and Industry and Trade.
The system of related legal documents issued by many different agencies lacks synchronization, causing confusion among grassroots officials in the process of reviewing and applying. The ratio of food safety standard products compared to the total volume of goods in circulation is still low.
Notably, some product groups do not have specific regulations on pollution limits, causing many obstacles in developing standards and implementing post-inspections.
There is also no unified document framework and assessment toolkit for training and fostering food safety knowledge. Many production and business establishments are confused when organizing training on their own, leading to low propaganda and knowledge dissemination efficiency.
"Illegal advertising and trading of functional foods on social networks is very complicated, uncontrollable, directly affecting consumers' health and a healthy business environment" - Ms. Xuan emphasized.
To tighten management, from May 20 to June 20, Son La will deploy a peak month to fight against smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, and intellectual property infringement.
After inspecting 67 business establishments, the authorities fined 30 violating establishments with a total amount of nearly 350 million VND, forcing the destruction of violating goods worth nearly 34 million VND.
However, many opinions say that without more drastic solutions and a unified coordination mechanism, food safety assurance will continue to face difficulties.
