Determining management responsibilities
On April 21, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Nghe An province announced that the Department of Quality, Processing and Development of the market reported the detection of 3,500 tons of bean sprouts soaked in chemicals. Since the beginning of January 2025, the Sub -Department has cooperated with the Investigation Police Department - Nghe An Province Police to monitor bean sprouts production activities in Vinh City, after the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) requests to handle similar violations in Dak Lak.
On April 10 and 11, 2025, the authorities simultaneously conducted an inspection, seized the exhibits and prosecuted 3 production facilities. In which, in Block 3, Trung Do Ward, Vinh City, 2 subjects, Luu Manh Huong and Tran Khac Duy, were prosecuted. This facility does not have a business registration certificate.
In Vinh Tan ward, Vinh city, defendant Nguyen Van Huong was prosecuted even though the establishment had a household business registration under the name of Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngan.
At Block 7, Nghi Phu Ward, the subject Luu Van Trung - with a legal business license - was also prosecuted. Through inspection, the authorities seized 1,948 bean sprout rolls (about 25,000kg), 25 liters of 6-BAP pure chemicals, 150 liters of mixed solutions, books, phones and many production materials. The samples were all assessed to contain aftermaths of banned substance 6-BAP - a growth stimulant banned from use in food.
According to Decision No. 11/2021/QD-UBND of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee, Vinh City authorities are responsible for managing establishments with business household registration such as Nguyen Van Huong and Luu Van Trung. Trung Do Ward People's Committee manages the illegal establishment of Luu Manh Huong and Tran Khac Duy. The Department of Agriculture and Environment of Nghe An province said it will work with relevant units to clarify responsibilities in management work.
Strengthening food safety management According to initial statements provided by Nghe An Provincial Police, bean sprout producers do not package but sell whole sprouts for 80,000 - 85,000 VND/fruit, each day consuming about 1-2 tons of processed bean sprouts to the market of Vinh City and surrounding areas.
Ms. Vo Thi Nhung - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Nghe An province - said that from this incident, the Department will direct specialized agencies to continue to strengthen inspection and examination, and strictly handle violations of food safety (FS), especially at small-scale production facilities.
In the coming time, the authorities of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment will continue to strengthen communication and training on food safety, while stepping up close supervision at unit markets and production facilities to protect consumers' health, preventing the situation of bean sprouts "soaked in chemicals" that do not ensure food hygiene and safety entering the market.
