On April 17, Politburo member and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh issued Official Dispatch No. 40/CD-TTg to the Ministers of the Ministries of Public Security; Health; Industry and Trade; Agriculture and Environment; Culture, Sports and Tourism; Chairman of the People's Committee of provinces and centrally run cities on handling the case of production and distribution of fake milk.
The dispatch stated that according to the press, recently, the authorities have discovered a number of businesses, organizations, and individuals producing, advertising, and distributing many types of fake milk; many consumers have expressed concern and insecurity because they have failed to buy and use these milk products.
The Government has assigned the management of food safety and prevention of counterfeit food to ministries, central agencies and People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities according to regulations.
In order to enhance the responsibility of ministries and agencies, improve the effectiveness and efficiency of food safety management, and prevent fake foods, including fake milk, the Prime Minister requested:
The Ministry of Public Security speeds up the investigation, promptly concluding the above case of production and trading of fake milk to inform consumers and bring the violators to trial in accordance with the provisions of law.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade strengthens market management, promptly detects, prevents, and strictly handles acts of producing and trading counterfeit foods, including fake milk.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism directs the organization of reviewing and handling violations in food advertising activities in newspapers, on the network environment, and in publications according to the provisions of law.
The Ministry of Health shall preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and relevant ministries and agencies to review regulations on ensuring food safety for dairy products and take appropriate handling measures to amend current regulations if necessary.
The People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities focus on directing the implementation of reviewing and inspecting compliance with regulations on ensuring the safety of dairy products in the area, strictly handling violations in accordance with regulations.
The Prime Minister requested the Ministries of Health; Industry and Trade; Agriculture and Environment; Culture, Sports and Tourism; People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities, according to their assigned functions, tasks and authority, to strengthen management measures to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of food safety management.
