Prime Minister's instruction on strengthening prevention of food poisoning in Vietnam

Prime Minister's instruction on strengthening prevention of food poisoning in Vietnam

To continue enhancing the effectiveness of food poisoning prevention efforts, the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam requests:

- Ministry of Health of Vietnam to:

+ Strengthen the implementation of preventive measures, prevention, and remediation of food safety incidents, particularly preventing the risk of food poisoning; promptly rectify any shortcomings or inadequacies (if any); regularly urge and inspect the organization and execution of these efforts in local areas, especially in key locations, major urban areas, tourist zones... where there are many collective kitchens and catering services for workers, students, tourists...; minimize the risk of food poisoning to the lowest level.

+ Promote information dissemination and education about the risks causing food poisoning and its prevention, especially at tourist spots, collective kitchens in schools, industrial zones, export processing zones, and street food;

+ Direct the comprehensive and effective implementation of measures to monitor the risks of food poisoning, information, and warnings about food poisoning risks due to microorganisms, natural toxins...; strengthen inspection of legal compliance regarding food safety, with a focus on sudden inspections, especially in high-risk areas, and strictly handle violations according to regulations;

+ Direct prompt medical treatment for food poisoning victims, ensuring the best health and life protection for the public when food poisoning occurs; proactively and promptly support local areas in addressing and overcoming the consequences of food poisoning if necessary.

- Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam to fully cooperate with the Ministry of Health in investigating causes; take the lead in tracing the origin and handling foods causing poisoning; regularly monitor hazards and risks of food poisoning due to agricultural chemicals, methanol in alcohol, etc.; enhance information dissemination about the risks of food poisoning and prevention of food poisoning for groups of products under the assigned management field.

- Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam to enhance crime prevention efforts and legal violations in food production and trading; intensify criminal actions against organizations and individuals with serious violations, especially activities related to smuggling, production, storage, and sale of fake or substandard food according to legal regulations.

- Ministry of Information and Communications, Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam News Agency, and press agencies to intensify information dissemination about measures to ensure food safety in production, processing, trading, and consumption of food, identify and prevent food poisoning risks.

- People's Committees of provinces and centrally affiliated cities to:

+ Allocate sufficient budget, resources, personnel quotas, and enhance capacity building of cadres to meet the requirements of state management on food safety in the local area.

+ Regularly organize assessments of food poisoning risks and implement necessary measures to prevent food poisoning locally.

+ Strengthen inspection, oversight, and sudden checks on adherence to regulations regarding conditions ensuring food safety in small-scale food production and trading, street food, business establishments, catering services, food safety in markets, collective kitchens, and subjects according to management hierarchy; strictly handle violations, resolutely suspend operations of non-compliant facilities, and recall and handle unsafe food products that pose a risk of poisoning.

+ Organize training, update knowledge, deploy resources, and conduct drills to respond to potential food poisoning incidents in the local area.

+ Directively enhance the responsibility of grassroots government in capturing the situation, inspecting, and handling violations of food safety regulations concerning organizations and individuals engaged in food production and trading, especially catering services and street food; promptly handle and report incidents, risks, and food poisoning cases in the locality.

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