Ministry of Health requests review of product declaration in fake milk production chain

Fake milk powder production warehouse discovered and destroyed by police (screenshot)

On the morning of April 15, Deputy Director of the Department of Food Safety ( Ministry of Health ) Nguyen Hung Long said he had just signed a document requesting to review and provide information related to establishments producing and trading fake milk.

The document was sent to the Department of Health of localities; Department of Food Safety of Ho Chi Minh City, Food Safety Management Board of Da Nang, Food Safety and Hygiene Department of provinces and cities: Hanoi, Hoa Binh, Hung Yen, Hai Duong.

In the document, the Ministry of Health agency cited recent information that the Ministry of Public Security's Investigation Police Agency had discovered a ring producing, trading, and consuming fake milk powder in very large quantities in Hanoi and neighboring provinces.

To have information to report to superior agencies, the Food Safety Department requested the above units to review product declaration for 11 companies on the list and branches (if any).

"If companies have declared products locally, please provide information on the number of declared products, the name of each declared product locally; review the issuance of certificates of qualified food safety facilities locally and inspection, examination, post-inspection, and handling of administrative violations from 2021 to present," Deputy Director Nguyen Hung Long requested.

As required by the Ministry of Health, the review results need to be reported promptly to the Food Safety Department.

As reported, the Ministry of Public Security has dismantled a large-scale fake milk production line with a revenue of nearly 500 billion VND at Rance Pharma International Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company and Hacofood Group Nutrition Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company (both located in Ha Dong, Hanoi).

According to the initial investigation results, 573 types of milk were produced and distributed. These are milk for people with diabetes, kidney failure, premature babies, and pregnant women.

The product declares ingredients such as bird's nest extract, cordyceps, macadamia powder, walnut powder... but in reality, these substances are completely absent. The subjects have removed some of the input materials and replaced and added some additives.

The police determined that the quality indicators of some substances in the powdered milk were below 70% of the announced level, enough to be identified as counterfeit goods.

The masterminds also formed joint ventures and partnerships with many other entities to establish 9 companies, with products covering the whole country.

List of companies:

1. Rance Pharma International Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company

2. Hacofood Group Pharmaceutical Nutrition Joint Stock Company

3. International Pharmaceutical Group Joint Stock Company

4. Big Four Pharma International Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company

5. Long Khang Group International Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company

6. BFF Medical Nutrition Joint Stock Company

7. Safaco Group International Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company

8. Darifa Group International Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company

9. Win CT International Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company

10. Phuc An Khang Nutrition Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company

11. Asia Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company