The situation of fake food and poor quality food is common
According to the Ministry of Health, after more than 15 years of implementation, the Food Safety Law has achieved certain results. However, during the implementation process, there were some shortcomings, problems and inadequacies:
Firstly, some regulations have not yet ensured consistency and unity in the legal system, and no longer ensure feasibility in practice.
Second, the management system has not been able to control the quality of food products, especially functional foods during production and circulation on the market.
Third, the management system and model of the national food safety management apparatus are not streamlined, unified, and not commensurate with the assigned tasks.
Fourth, post-inspection, inspection, and supervision after food self-declaration and registration of declaration are still not regular; the situation of fake food and poor quality food has been common, causing public outrage in recent times.
Fifth, there is a lack of a mechanism for state agencies to revoke issued certificates or temporarily suspend the provision of public services when organizations and individuals are found to have violated.
Sixth, there is no regulation that organizations and individuals whose names are announced for products are organizations and individuals who do business in food and produce food and must take full responsibility for the safety and quality of food products when they are circulating on the market. In case the manufacturing facility does not have a name to announce, it must authorize another facility and must still be responsible to the end for the products produced by the facility.
Seventh, it is not required that enterprises comply with regulations on applying advanced food safety management systems in production (HACCP) to establishments producing medical nutritional foods, foods for special diets; nutritional products for children up to 36 months old, supplements...
Therefore, the development of the Food Safety Law (amended) is very necessary to promptly resolve limitations, problems and inadequacies in the provisions of the Law; identify and promote the responsibility of management agencies and food production and trading enterprises, improve the effectiveness of ensuring food safety and quality.
At the same time, strengthen post-inspections to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of implementing provisions of the law on food safety and improve product quality; continue to reform administrative procedures in food management activities, ensure consumer rights, and facilitate people and businesses.
Currently, the Ministry of Health is drafting the Law on Food Safety (amended). According to the draft, in addition to General Regulations and Implementation Provisions, the Law stipulates issues such as: Rights and obligations of organizations and individuals in ensuring food quality and safety; conditions for ensuring food safety and quality; conditions for business establishments; import and export; advertising, labeling; testing; analyzing and managing risks and overcoming obstacles for food, food ingredients, food additives, food processing aids; information, education, communication on food safety; State management of food.
It is necessary to clearly define the unit for managing food safety
Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen - Permanent Deputy Head of the Drafting Team of the Food Safety Law (amended) said: To implement the development of the Food Safety Law, the Ministry of Health has quickly issued a plan, developed a outline and issued a report summarizing 12 years of implementing the Law.
Up to this point, the Ministry of Health - the drafting committee has completed the 6th draft of the Food Safety Law.
Deputy Minister Do Xuan Tuyen suggested that central ministries and branches continue to study and contribute comments to the draft Law on Food Safety (amended); provincial and municipal Departments of Health urgently advise the People's Committees of provinces and cities to have documents contributing comments to the Draft sent to the Ministry of Health for the Ministry to synthesize and report to the Government to keep up with progress.
Deputy Minister Do Xuan Tuyen also noted that in the draft law, it is necessary to pay attention to studying specific issues on food safety management units; issues of administrative reform, decentralization, delegation of authority, post-inspection, and licensing of food circulation; application of information technology in the fields of: Database, risk assessment, warnings... in accordance with local authorities at two levels; include in the Law both factors: Ensuring food safety and quality assurance; advertising issue; strengthening administrative sanctions; management of e-commerce; responsibilities of ministries and branches in organizing implementation...
According to the Plan, the Law on Food Safety (amended) will be submitted to the National Assembly for approval in October 2025.
