The case of people discovering thousands of products of medicine and functional foods illegally dumped on an empty lot on Nguyen Van Linh Street (Binh Chanh District) on June 6 is attracting public attention.
According to a quick report from the People's Committee of Phong Phu commune (Binh Chanh district), there were initial records of about 50 kg of medicine and functional foods (for adults and children). These types are still valid until 2025, 2026. At the scene, a piece of land was completely burned down, with an area of about 20 square meters.
Discussing this incident with Lao Dong Newspaper, Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Kim Hieu - Head of the Faculty of Social Sciences - International Languages, Gia Dinh University - said that health-related products, including health protection foods, medicine, medical supplies, when expired, spoiled or of poor quality, must be destroyed according to a strict process to ensure safety for humans and livestock and not cause environmental pollution.
According to Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Kim Hieu, the strict destruction process will include: specialized health agencies classify and determine whether products belong to common industrial solid waste or hazardous waste such as chemicals, drug ingredients, etc.
After classification, if it is hazardous waste, it is necessary to report the waste treatment plan to the provincial/city environmental management agency or the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment).
Next, the competent authority needs to sign a contract with a unit with the function, capacity and waste treatment license appropriate to the type of product to be destroyed (common industrial solid waste or hazardous waste). This unit must have a standard processing system and technology.
The destruction must be carried out at the facility of the waste treatment unit, under the supervision of the business representative (if any) and the Destroyment Council.
According to Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Kim Hieu, the destruction of drugs and functional foods that do not comply with the above process is considered a violation of the law.
According to Clause 2, Clause 3, Article 26 of Decree No. 45/2022/ND-CP, which stipulates administrative sanctions for violations in the field of environmental protection. Clause 2 stipulates: The act of discharging solid waste in violation of regulations on environmental protection may be subject to a fine of VND 3,000,000 to VND 5,000,000 for cases of discharging over VND 1,000 to under VND 2,000,000.
If the quantity is larger, the fine can be up to 10,000,000 VND. Clause 3, Article 26 stipulates a fine of VND 5,000,000 to VND 10,000,000 for the act of dumping or discharging common industrial solid waste that is not in accordance with regulations.
As reported by Lao Dong Newspaper, on the morning of June 6, people discovered thousands of functional food products dumped on the sidewalk of Nguyen Van Linh Street. Among them, many products have foreign labels and are still valid.
After receiving the information, Phong Phu Commune Police, Binh Chanh District, were present to record the scene and ask for information from surrounding houses to handle the incident. The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety has also transferred the Ho Chi Minh City Police to investigate this incident.
