Tran Vinh Tuyen, Vice Chairman of the city People’s Committee at the meeting (Photo: SGGP)
So confirmed Tran Vinh Tuyen, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh city People’s Committee, during a meeting held on June 7
th with the city Food Safety Management Department and the People’s Committees of 24 districts on food safety management.
According to Mr Le Minh Hai, Vice Head of the city Food Safety Management Department, its pilot operation had met a lot of difficulties, including limited cooperation with districts given the inadequate number of food safety management workers at districts, the professionalism of workers’ food safety management, a lack of testing devices, and a lack of capital for testing.
Meanwhile, the operation of illegal food foundations has not been controlled; illegal animal slaughtering houses are still reported; and there remains trade of fake goods, prohibited substances, chemicals and food additives.
According to Mr. Tuyen, the city will increase inspection on the origin of animal and poultry meat at trading markets. In the longer term, the city will inspect whole vegetables and seafood; as a result, vegetables and seafood with unclear origin will not be allowed to be sold at markets, supermarkets and shops.
He also asked the district People’s Committee to clear up all illegal markets in July, as they can be places for consumption of unsafe, unclear-origin and outdated food.
The city Department of Industry and Trade will be responsible for arranging mobile food shops selling safe food at reasonable prices, instead of illegal markets at areas where there are large numbers of poor people and workers./.