On May 6, at a regular Government press conference, the press asked the Ministry of Health about the issue of fake milk and fake medicine.
Accordingly, the press raised questions to clarify loopholes in policies and laws that cause products to blatantly exist on the market for a long time without being controlled or detected.
"Recently, the situation of functional foods being advertised as a treatment for all diseases has been rampant in the market, what are the responsibilities and what are the management solutions?" - the press asked.
Responding to these contents, Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan said that the problem of fake milk and fake medicine that has occurred recently is very serious. Forged products directly involve young children, sick people, and those who need special nutrition.
This is a serious business violation for personal gain, long-term profiteering, disregarding legal regulations, disregarding the law, and is a condemnable act.
According to the Deputy Minister of Health, immediately after discovering the incident, the Ministry issued Official Letter No. 832 dated April 23 directing provinces and cities to review, inspect, and coordinate with competent authorities to recall fake nutritional foods and powdered milk.
At the same time, this agency has coordinated with the Ministry of Public Security and the Investigation Police Agency to handle and resolve according to regulations, recommending that people should not use 72 milk products until the final investigation decision of the Ministry of Public Security is available.
Also responding at the meeting, the Deputy Minister of Health affirmed that the health sector has fulfilled its responsibilities when it has issued full relevant regulations.
According to Decree 15, the management of functional foods involves the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The management and supervision of most of the Ministry of Health has been decentralized and delegated to provinces, cities and health departments, the Ministry of Health only decides on criteria and standards.
"There are many objective and subjective reasons for such an incident, due to the moral awareness of business participants, taking advantage of people's health for personal gain" - Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan added.
To overcome, the Ministry of Health will coordinate with the relevant ministry, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Industry and Trade to coordinate to implement. Recently, the Ministry has also submitted to the Government of the Pharmacy Law amended, the Law on Food Safety amended ... to manage the most strict management of products related to the health of the people.
Also on this issue, Major General Hoang Anh Tuyen - Deputy Chief of Office, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security - said that the police have prosecuted and arrested many subjects related to fake milk and fake drugs.
Typically, in the case of the production, trading and consumption of fake powdered milk in large quantities in Hanoi and neighboring provinces.
As of April 29, the Investigation Police Agency of the Ministry of Public Security has prosecuted and temporarily detained 15 subjects to investigate acts such as the production and trading of counterfeit food; Violating accounting regulations causing serious consequences; Fraudulent appropriation of property; Giving bribes; Bribery brokerage.
Regarding the case of production and trading of counterfeit goods for medicine and disease prevention in Thanh Hoa province and many provinces and cities nationwide: By April 29, 2025, the Investigation Police Agency of Thanh Hoa Provincial Police had issued a decision to prosecute the case and prosecute 14 subjects for the crime of "production and trading of counterfeit goods for medicine and disease prevention".
