"Strongly" handle violations in the business of goods serving the Mid-Autumn Festival

The moon cake market has started to become bustling, since the beginning of the seventh lunar month, supermarkets and stores in the province have started to display and introduce a variety of moon cake models. Mobile moon cake stalls on the streets are prepared very early to meet people's needs. Most of the popular items are still cakes from big brands such as: Hanoi Confectionery Company, Kinh Do, Bibica, Huu Nghi... In addition, foreign-made moon cakes have appeared on the market, mainly sold online on social networking sites such as Facebook, TikTok... which pose a risk to food hygiene and safety, making it difficult to monitor, inspect and handle violations.

Mr. Phan The Anh, Director of the Provincial Market Management Department, said: Faced with difficulties in controlling the moon cake market, the Provincial Market Management Department has requested the Market Management Teams to closely monitor the area. Before the Mid-Autumn Festival, it is required to monitor and inspect moon cake production and trading establishments; means of transport, and places where goods are gathered in the management area; the inspection content focuses on the origin of raw materials for moon cake production; the use of food additives, food processing aids, product quality inspection, and conditions to ensure food safety in food production, processing, and preservation.

During the Mid-Autumn Festival, focus on monitoring and inspecting business establishments, agents, and stores in complying with the law in the production and trading of moon cakes. During the period after the Mid-Autumn Festival, focus on checking the recall and handling of expired products that do not meet quality standards.

Strictly handle violations in trading goods for Mid-Autumn Festival — Moon cakes of unknown origin will be labeled by businesses before being put on the market.

Implementing the direction of the Market Management Department, since July, the units have organized to monitor and manage the area, organizations and individuals producing and trading goods, collecting information to promptly deploy measures to inspect and control the market, prevent and handle violations in the production and trade of counterfeit goods, infringement of intellectual property rights, unknown origin, not ensuring quality and food safety and hygiene for products transported and consumed a lot during the Mid-Autumn Festival such as: candy, food, wine, beer, soft drinks, children's toys, etc.

Recently, Market Management Team No. 4 - Ninh Binh Province Market Management Department inspected Luong Vui food store owned by Mr. Vu Duc Chinh, in Hamlet 3, Hung Tien Commune, Kim Son District. At the time of the inspection, the store was selling 288 moon cakes of various types, with labels written in foreign languages. The business owner could not provide invoices, vouchers or accompanying documents to prove the legality of the goods. The total value of the infringing goods was nearly 10 million VND. The authorities decided to fine the above business with a fine of 6 million VND and forced the destruction of the infringing goods according to regulations.

Market Management Team No. 1, the Provincial Market Management Department has just conducted a surprise inspection of Chi Cuong Food Store (Mai Chi Cuong business household) in Tan Thanh Ward, Ninh Binh City and discovered thousands of moon cakes of unknown origin.

At the time of inspection, the Inspection Team discovered that the store was trading in food products, including: 332 moon cakes of 500g/piece; 2,160 moon cakes of 40g/piece, 120 moon cakes of 66.5g/piece, 120 packages of moon cakes of 180g/package (6 pieces/package). All of the above goods had no labels and were of unknown origin. The business owner, Mr. Mai Chi Cuong, could not present documents or invoices proving the origin of the goods as prescribed.

The Market Management Force of Ninh Binh province has issued a decision to fine Mai Chi Cuong business household for trading in food of unknown origin with the amount of 17 million VND, and at the same time forced to destroy 3,332 moon cakes of the above types.

In addition to moon cake products and cake ingredients, the provincial Market Management Department also actively coordinates with relevant units to strengthen inspection and control of stationery and children's toys, hotel and restaurant service establishments that produce and trade cakes and candies on the occasion of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The trading of smuggled food, food of unknown origin, goods that infringe on copyright, counterfeit food production and trading trademarks, etc. will be strictly handled.

Information from the provincial Market Management Department said: During the peak month of market inspection and control during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Ninh Binh Provincial Market Management Department has inspected 34 cases, handled 22 cases, imposed fines of VND 115.1 million, confiscated illegal exhibits worth VND 88.4 million, including 1,119 children's toys of all kinds; forced the destruction of illegal exhibits worth over VND 84 million, including 5,119 moon cakes of all kinds and 300 products of food and functional foods.

In the coming time, the provincial Market Management force will continue to strengthen inspection and handling of violations of goods with high consumer demand during the 2024 Mid-Autumn Festival such as moon cakes, children's toys, candies, wine, beer, soft drinks, etc., ensuring a stable market and normal circulation of goods.

Along with resolutely handling violations in the business of goods serving the Mid-Autumn Festival, local authorities recommend that consumers should choose products according to criteria such as information on product packaging must include the name and address of the manufacturer and importer; production date, expiry date, ingredients, instructions for use, instructions for preservation; confectionery and food must not be crushed or deformed, packaging must be intact, not torn, not have unusual colors, not be rotten, not moldy, damaged and have no strange smell. In particular, "customers" absolutely do not buy floating products, products of unknown origin, expired goods, torn packaging, deformed products, goods without labels, etc.

Article and photos: Nguyen Thom

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