Strengthening the assurance of food safety for the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam in 2024

Strengthening the assurance of food safety for the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam in 2024​ (Image from the internet)

On August 9, 2024, the Food Safety Department issued Official Dispatch 1964/ATTP-NDTT on strengthening the assurance of food safety for the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam in 2024

Strengthening the assurance of food safety for the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam in 2024

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, the consumption demand for various types of confectionery, especially mooncakes, surges dramatically. Alongside reputable businesses providing safe products, some organizations and individuals are clandestinely introducing contraband candy and mooncakes of unknown origins into the market. To ensure food safety, prevent food poisoning, and protect consumer rights and health, the Food Safety Department requests that the offices of the People's Committees of provinces/cities under Central authority, Departments of Health of provinces/cities under Central authority, Ho Chi Minh City's Department of Food Safety, the Food Safety Management Boards of Bac Ninh Province and Da Nang City, direct the functional units to implement specific measures to ensure food safety such as:

- Collaborate with the Department of Industry and Trade, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to carry out inspections and audits on the compliance with food safety regulations by food production, processing, and business establishments in the area, with a focus on mooncake, candy, beverage, and traditional food producers especially those in craft villages and small establishments; food service businesses, street food vendors, etc. Promptly trace back and recall products that do not meet food safety standards, handle violations strictly, and publicize the names, addresses, and types of violating products on mass media. If there are criminal indications, propose transferring cases to police authorities for handling according to law.

- Proactively cooperate with media agencies to enhance information, education, and communication on food safety during the Mid-Autumn Festival occasion in Vietnam. The content of dissemination should be directed to the following targets:

+ For food production, business establishments: Implement legal regulations on food safety concerning facility conditions, equipment, tools, requirements on knowledge and practices of direct participants in production, regulations on food material origins, regulations on product registration, self-declaration of products, use of colorings, flavorings, additives, food packaging, and product labeling.

+ For consumers: Guide the selection, processing, preservation, and use of safe food; only purchase and use food and food additives with complete labels and clear origins; do not use food additives outside the list, for inappropriate subjects, or in amounts not prescribed by regulations.

- Strictly implement Directive 17/CT-TTg dated April 13, 2020, by the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam to continue enhancing the responsibility of state management of food safety in the new situation; Directive 17/CT-TW dated October 21, 2022, by the Secretariat Central Committee on enhancing the assurance of security and food safety in the new situation; Official Telegram 44/CD-TTg dated May 3, 2024, by the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam on preventing and handling food poisoning; Document 2487/BYT-ATTP dated May 11, 2024, by the Ministry of Health on preventing and handling food poisoning and Document 3113/BYT-ATTP dated June 7, 2024, on enhancing the work of preventing food poisoning.

- Direct local health units to prepare plans, standby forces, tools, supplies, and chemicals to be ready for emergency rescue and treatment of patients in case of food poisoning; investigate food poisoning cases, determine the cause of poisoning, and implement measures to prevent the risk of food poisoning and foodborne diseases.

More details can be found in Official Dispatch 1964/ATTP-NDTT issued on August 9, 2024.

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