Lai Chau has just issued a Food Safety Control Plan for crop products in the province.
In which, Lai Chau ginseng and medicinal plants used as food are identified as key product groups that need to be controlled.
According to the plan, control will be carried out based on the level of risk, focusing on production areas, raw material areas, collection, preliminary processing, processing facilities and products with export potential or high potential risks to food safety.
In the group of key commodities, Lai Chau ginseng is included in the controlled area along with tea, rice, cinnamon, macadamia, fruit trees, vegetables, tubers and galangal.
Real-world records show that Lai Chau province currently has 146.68ha of Lai Chau Ginseng raw material area.
Lai Chau ginseng (Panax vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus) is a medicinal plant with a narrow natural distribution area in Lai Chau. This plant species was scientifically published in 2013 and is identified as a subspecies of Vietnamese ginseng.
Studies cited by the province show that Lai Chau ginseng grows in specific ecological conditions, usually at an altitude of about 1,400-2,200m, where there is high humidity and under the forest canopy.
This is also a plant species that is of interest due to its gene source and medicinal material value. Some studies have isolated the characteristic saponins from the root of Lai Chau ginseng.
Due to the narrow natural distribution area and pressure of exploitation, conservation, breeding and development of the Lai Chau ginseng growing area are focused on.
Many research programs have been implemented to restore gene sources, build breeding processes, plant and develop raw material areas.
In the new plan, Lai Chau requires strengthening inspection and supervision of raw material areas, and at the same time controlling production conditions, origin and quality of raw materials, traceability records, water sources, preliminary processing and processing procedures, storage conditions, packaging and product labeling.
Notably, sample testing will be carried out according to risk assessment.
Cases with signs of improper use of pesticides, with information reflecting, warning, history of violations or inappropriate test results will be strengthened for control.
Abnormalities in records, production logs, origin of raw materials or traceability information are also the basis for taking samples for testing.
By 2030, Lai Chau aims to review, statistically analyze and update 100% of key raw material areas.
The province also requires that 100% of cases with inappropriate test results must be notified, traced, determined the cause and handled or proposed for handling according to their authority.
The inclusion of Lai Chau ginseng in the key product group in the food safety control plan shows that management requirements are being placed in parallel with the process of developing raw material areas, ensuring quality and traceability for this valuable medicinal plant.
