Accordingly, local authorities in all districts, wards, and towns will collect information on food production, processing, and eating places, including food stalls and street vendors, between October 28 and November 15.

District-level health centers will then be in charge of analyzing the data and submitting their findings to the Hanoi Sub-Department of Food Safety (under the Hanoi Department of Health) by November 25.

The purpose of the survey is to gain a thorough understanding of the local food safety situation and to quickly identify non-compliance so that corrective action can be taken to reduce health risks.

Authorities inspect labels on frozen food at a supermarket in Hoang Mai District. Photos: Thanh Binh/The Hanoi Times

The Hanoi Sub-Department of Food Safety will focus on raising public awareness and encouraging citizens and businesses to comply with food hygiene laws.

This is part of the directive of the Standing Board of the Hanoi Party Committee to strengthen the leadership of local Party committees in ensuring food safety and security in the current context, recently issued by Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Nguyen Thi Tuyen.

Directive No. 34-CT/TU urges all Party committees, government bodies and organizations to heighten public awareness of food safety regulations and encourages voluntary compliance by producers, processors, suppliers and consumers.

Local authorities are instructed to integrate food safety criteria into their annual socio-economic plans, with accountability for management and clear delegation of responsibility and effective management practices.

The Directive also emphasizes the need to take strict action against those who take advantage of food safety issues to defame reputable companies.

In addition, the city will build safe and high-quality food supply chains, promote clean agricultural practices, and invest in rural infrastructure and logistics networks for storage, processing, and e-commerce, Tuyen said.

The Standing Board of the Hanoi Party Committee has called for increased investment in resources, including modern equipment and personnel, to strengthen food safety management. Efforts will also be made to promote local products and ensure their quality and origin.

The Vietnam Fatherland Front and other socio-political organizations are encouraged to actively disseminate information, provide legal assistance, and monitor safe food supply chains while reporting infringements.

The Standing Board has mandated strengthened inspections and public engagement to detect and expose food safety violations while ensuring adequate protection and rewards for whistleblowers.

In addition, efforts will be made to improve preventive measures and proactively address food poisoning and foodborne illness, according to the Directive.

Food safety inspections reveal compliance challenges

The city's multi-disciplinary team of food safety inspectors at Davidcorp Vietnam JSC in the Thanh Tri District.

Since the beginning of 2024, the Hanoi Food Safety Department has inspected 5,820 street food establishments, including those at festivals, fairs, tourist sites, and public areas. 

Since the beginning of 2024, the Hanoi Food Safety Department has inspected 5,820 street food establishments, including those at festivals, fairs, tourist sites, and public areas, and found that 83.7% of these establishments met food safety standards, while more than 16% were caught violating regulations. Failing establishments were punished and ordered to ensure compliance with food safety standards.

In addition, the department's inspection of 35,146 food service establishments across the city indicated that 84.5% complied with hygiene requirements. Non-compliant establishments were issued warnings and fines.

To encourage public involvement in food safety monitoring, the state agency has set up hotlines 0823.88.9095 and 0922.55.9095 for residents to report violations.  

According to Hanoi Steering Committee 389, the sale and transport of unverified and substandard food products continues to be rampant. Violations were found mainly in items such as snacks, sausages, and animal offal, including pig stomachs, brains, and fat. Violators often engage in fraudulent practices by altering labels or falsifying expiration dates.

In response, enforcement agencies have stepped up inspections and taken strong action against numerous violations to prevent unsafe food from entering the market and protect consumer health.

Increased inspections planned ahead of year-end and Tet celebrations

As a key player in food safety management, Hanoi's Department of Industry has been actively working with the city's Department of Health - responsible for food safety supervision - and other relevant agencies to advise the city's People's Committee on food safety regulations.

The department plans to strengthen inspection and monitoring of compliance with food safety regulations among production and trading enterprises, focusing on product origin and labeling to ensure safety for the upcoming New Year and Tet celebrations in 2025.

Deputy Director Nguyen The Hiep of the Hanoi Department of Industry stressed that the department will continue to work with local authorities to improve the management of fruit vendors throughout the city, prioritizing the monitoring of food safety standards.

He added that the department has already collaborated with various agencies and local governments to provide guidance and identification signs to over 1,000 fruit shops and 2,940 food production and trading facilities in local markets that meet safety standards. 

The use of information technology in food safety administrative procedures has also made significant progress, the deputy director said.

The city government also uses ISO procedures for administrative tasks related to food safety certification, with 100% of these procedures now available online through the city's public service portal, making it easier for businesses to comply, Hiep said.

"In addition, the city's Department of Industry will strengthen the promotion of safe food products from safe production areas in Hanoi and surrounding provinces and their sale into the city's distribution system. This activity is aimed at preventing unsafe food from circulating in the market," the head of the department stressed.

In addition, the state agency has organized numerous trade networking events and promotional activities, helping to develop safe production regions and promote a stable supply of safe food throughout the city.

To strengthen communication on food safety in Hanoi City in 2024-2025, the Hanoi City People's Committee has launched a communication campaign with the aim of bringing about a substantial change in the awareness and actions of consumers, managers, food producers, processors and traders. Specifically, it focuses on raising and promoting a high level of awareness regarding the legal and legitimate rights of people to use safe and protected food, as well as the rights of food consumers who are the customers and the market that are essential to the survival and growth of businesses, food producers, processors and traders.