From the case of price of banned substances, we must increase responsibility for businesses and supermarkets

The banned substance used to soak bean sprouts in Dak Lak province is not on the permitted list, but for profit, producers ignore it.

Increasing quality control of agricultural products and input foods now needs to be strengthened to limit risks for consumers - Photo: N.TRI

The above comment was made by Mr. Tran Thanh Nam - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development - at a working session with the food safety management and industry and trade sectors of Ho Chi Minh City on food safety issues during Tet holiday on January 20.

Changing regulations to increase corporate responsibility

According to Mr. Nam, it is necessary to increase the responsibility and role of manufacturers and distributors because currently, with a widespread market and a large amount of goods like Ho Chi Minh City, the state management agency alone cannot control it all.

Instead, distribution units must sit together and with the management agency to build a strict monitoring mechanism, operating in a chain. Here, regulations can be changed to increase the responsibility of enterprises, forcing this force to voluntarily comply and be transparent in control.

"Supermarkets need to clearly inform the management agency about suppliers and test results. Even when taking samples of goods, there should be the participation of the management agency to monitor the supermarket itself.

How does the tripartite mechanism, from the production facility, distribution facility, and testing unit, coordinate with each other? In the future, we will research and coordinate with the health sector to review the testing frequency," Mr. Nam emphasized.

According to Mr. Tong Xuan Chinh - Deputy Director of the Department of Animal Husbandry, Ho Chi Minh City is quite large with many goods but the amount of sampling for control is currently too modest. Therefore, in the near future, it is necessary to improve this step, because sampling plays an important role in screening and inspection orientation.

Representatives of many agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that the story of the price of soaking drugs is a big lesson. Here, increasing control from the root and increasing the number of samples taken is very necessary. Therefore, in case the State encounters difficulties due to insufficient funding, it should increase the mobilization of socialization in this stage.

Many difficulties but will try

From the management agency perspective, Ms. Pham Khanh Phong Lan - Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety - said that the city has signed with 15 provinces and cities in the project to develop safe food. However, because the city imports most of its food from other provinces, the agricultural sector of the provinces plays a very important role in quality control.

According to Ms. Lan, the unit is currently facing many difficulties such as limited authority to penetrate and catch violations, especially cases of using banned substances; modest funding for testing; and difficulty in handling and destroying goods.

Ms. Lan affirmed that in the near future, she will find more solutions to increase inspection from the source, increase socialization of testing, and increase coordination with businesses and supermarkets to better control input food sources.

Will continue to check raw price items

According to Ms. Pham Khanh Phong Lan, through initial basic inspection, the raw bean sprout samples from the general warehouse of Bach Hoa Xanh in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City and other samples still meet standards, no banned substances have been detected.

"The unit will continue to conduct inspections to get more objective and realistic results. We are determined to conduct regular inspections, not waiting for press reports to do so."

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tu-vu-gia-ngam-chat-cam-phai-tang-trach-nhiem-voi-doanh-nghiep-sieu-thi-20250120185807804.htm