The Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has focused on inspecting production and business facilities post-Covid-19 as ensuring food safety has been the priority of the city’s agricultural sector.

Functional forces and the People's Committees of districts have strictly controlled food products in the city and inspected the compliance of food business establishments, especially at markets, supermarkets, and trade centers.

Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Ngoc Son shared with The Hanoi Times in an interview that food hygiene and safety play an important role in ensuring people's health.

The Hanoi inter-disciplinary delegation inspects Winmart Supermarket in Nam Tu Liem District. Photo: Lam Nguyen

“The inspection results have shown that the eateries have a good sense of compliance with administrative procedures as prescribed by law,” Son said.

His department will strengthen training to improve the capacity of the food safety management team at all levels, Son noted, adding that promoting the dissemination of the food safety law in the agricultural sector to all people would be the priority in the time ahead.

Son stressed that from now until the end of 2022, the situation of food safety is predicted to be more complicated due to the increased demand for food during the holidays.

Therefore, the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will continue to direct subordinate units to closely enforce regulations on food safety in production establishments to ensure people's health and safety.

Moreover, the department will continue to closely coordinate with the relevant departments in developing and implementing annual specialized inspection plans, avoiding overlaps and duplication of duties.

“Sampling, quality monitoring, and food safety in 2022 will continue to be tightened in accordance with the Covid-19 pandemic situation, focusing on fresh products,” Son told The Hanoi Times. 

Focus on overcoming limitations

The functional forces of Cau Giay District inspect the origin of ingredients at a Starbucks coffee shop on Duy Tan Street. Photo: Cong Trinh

In the first quarter of 2022, Hanoi's inspection work in the field of food safety was deployed with focus.

The department’s statistics show that in the first quarter of 2022, the agricultural sector's functional forces inspected 59 production and business facilities of agricultural materials and agro-forestry-fishery products and detected breaches in nine establishments, which were fined a total amount of VND156 million (US$6,815). Those establishments were reported to have used materials of unknown origin for food processing or failed to comply with the general conditions on food safety assurance.