Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister Le Tien Chau has just signed Official Dispatch No. 64/CD-TTg dated September 13, 2026 of the Prime Minister on strengthening the assurance of safety and quality of boarding and semi-boarding meals in educational institutions.
According to the telegram, in some places, the selection of food suppliers, meals, cooking services; controlling the origin and quality of raw materials; conditions for processing, transporting, and preserving food; building menus and controlling nutrition are still inadequate, posing potential risks of food insecurity (ATTP), affecting the quality and nutritional value of meals, and the health of children and students.
To rectify the above situation, the Prime Minister requests:
Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and cities direct and take full responsibility for organizing boarding and semi-boarding meals at educational institutions in the area; not allowing lax management, lack of inspection and supervision, or unclear responsibility when incidents occur.
Strengthen inspection and supervision of the supply of food, meals and cooking services; strictly control the origin, quality of food, raw materials, conditions for processing, preserving, transporting, receiving, storing food samples and food safety assurance conditions according to regulations. Strictly handle violating organizations and individuals; resolutely suspend and replace suppliers that do not meet requirements.
The commune-level People's Committee is responsible for organizing the selection and signing of contracts with units providing meals and cooking services for public educational institutions under their management in the area; organizing management, inspection, and supervision of contract implementation.
The selection of suppliers must ensure publicity, transparency, objectivity, and compliance with regulations; taking food safety, quality and nutritional value of meals, supply capacity, food traceability and the rights of children and students as core requirements; not choosing food suppliers based only on low price criteria.
The Ministry of Education and Training shall preside over and coordinate with ministries, agencies, and localities to urgently complete and promulgate regulations under its authority on organizing boarding and semi-boarding meals in educational institutions; clearly stipulate conditions, organizational procedures, responsibilities of each agency, organization, and individual; strengthen the responsibility of local authorities, and at the same time reduce unnecessary administrative procedures and pressures not under the professional responsibility of the school.
Building a database on the organization of boarding and semi-boarding meals in the education sector in an interconnected, shared direction, serving management, supervision and risk warning.
The Minister of Health directed local health agencies to strengthen inspection and supervision of food safety and hygiene for establishments producing, processing, and supplying food and meals to schools; focusing on large-scale suppliers or for many schools.
