What is fresh food? Safety assurance conditions for fresh and raw food in Vietnam

What is fresh food? Safety assurance conditions for fresh and raw food in Vietnam (Internet image)

In this regard, Lawnet would like to answer as follows:

1. What is fresh and raw food?

According to Clause 21, Article 2 of the Law on Food Safety 2010, fresh and raw food means unprocessed food, including fresh meat, eggs, fish, aquatic products, vegetables, tubers and fruits and other unprocessed foods.

2. Safety assurance conditions for fresh and raw food in Vietnam

Safety assurance conditions for fresh and raw food under Article 11 of the Law on Food Safety 2010 are as follows:

- To meet the conditions specified in Article 10 of the Law on Food Safety 2010.

+ To conform with relevant technical regulations, to meet limit requirements for pathogenic microorganisms, residues of plant protection drugs or veterinary drugs, heavy metals, contaminants and other substances in food that may cause harm to human health and life.

+ Depending on each type of food, in addition to the conditions specified in Clause 1 of  Article 10 of the Law on Food Safety 2010, food must comply with one or more of the following regulations:

++ Regulations on use of food additives and processing aids in food production and trading:

++ Regulations on food packaging and labeling;

++ Regulations on food preservation.

- To guarantee the origin tracing under Article 54 of the Law on Food Safety 2010:

+ Food producers and traders shall trace the origin of unsafe foods in the following cases:

++ At the request of competent state agencies;

++ When detecting that food products they produce or trade in are unsafe.

+ Food producers and traders that trace the origin of unsafe foods shall:

++ Identify and notify lots of unsafe food products:

++ Request food trading agents to report on the quantity of products of unsafe food lots, actual quantities of products left in stock and being marketed:

++ Summarize, and report to competent state agencies on. recall plans and disposal measures.

+ Competent state agencies shall inspect and supervise the tracing of the origin of unsafe foods.

- To have veterinary hygiene certificates issued by competent veterinary agencies for fresh and raw food of animal origin under the animal health law.

3. Food safety assurance conditions for production and trading of fresh and raw food in Vietnam

3.1. Food safety assurance conditions for producers of fresh and raw food in Vietnam

Food safety assurance conditions for producers of fresh and raw food under Article 23 of the Law on Food Safety 2010 as follows:

- Producers of fresh and raw food must meet the following conditions:

+ Meeting requirements on cultivation land, water sources and production places for producing safe food;

+ Complying with the laws on use of plant varieties and livestock breeds; fertilizer, animal feed, plant protection drugs, veterinary drugs, growth, weight and sexual maturity stimulants, food preservatives and other food safety-related substances;

+ Complying with regulations on animal quarantine and hygiene in animal slaughtering; and plant quarantine for crop products;

+ Treating waste under the law on environmental protection:

+ Using detergents, disinfectants and antidotes which are safe for humans and the environment;

+ Maintaining food safety assurance conditions, keeping records of source and origin of food materials and other documents on the entire process to produce fresh and raw food.

- The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development shall provide specific food safety assurance conditions for producers of fresh and raw food.

3.2. Food safety assurance conditions for traders of fresh and raw food in Vietnam

Food safety assurance conditions for traders of fresh and raw food under Article 24 of the Law on Food Safety 2010 as follows:

- Traders of fresh and raw food must meet the following conditions:

+ Meeting safety assurance conditions for food-packaging tools and food packages and containers and for food preservation and transportation specified in Articles 18. 20 and 21 of the Law on Food Safety 2010;

+ Ensuring and maintaining hygiene in business places.

- The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development shall provide specific food safety assurance conditions for traders of fresh and raw food.

Le Truong Quoc Dat

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