Amendments to Vietnam’s Food Safety Law have been proposed by the country’s Ministry of Health (MOH) to address emerging challenges in food safety management, particularly focusing on small-scale food producers. These changes aim to reduce food poisoning incidents and improve overall food safety standards.
The Food Safety Law, enacted in 2010 and implemented since July 1, 2011, has served as a crucial legal foundation for food safety management in Vietnam. However, more than 12 years after adoption and execution, certain aspects of the law no longer meet current needs for developing and improving the food safety legal system.
Key issues identified by the MoH include:
- Inadequate production and business requirements for small-scale producers, who supply a significant amount of the country’s food.
- Gaps in management regulations, including a lack of safety criteria for plant-based foods and regulations on investigating food poisoning cases.
- Inconsistencies in state management of food safety for certain business types, such as restaurants within hotels or collective kitchens without registered food business licenses.
- Lack of clear definitions for terms like small-scale food production, pre-packaged processed foods, and various regulatory terms.
The proposed amendments aim to address these issues and strengthen the legal framework for food safety. Currently, the MOH is collecting data and feedback from various sectors and the public on these proposed changes.
The urgency of these amendments is underscored by recent food poisoning statistics. In the first half of 2024, 36 food poisoning outbreaks were reported, affecting over 2,100 people and resulting in six deaths. These incidents occurred in provinces such as Khánh Hòa, Đồng Nai, and Vĩnh Phúc, with harmful bacteria and natural toxins identified as the primary causes. Pork and chicken dishes were common sources of contamination.
In May, Food Poisoning News reported on a massive outbreak of food poisoning in the country that led to the hospitalization of over 450 people with severe gastrointestinal distress. The source of the outbreak was linked to a popular bakery’s ‘banh mi’ Vietnamese-style sandwiches. An investigation by the local health department found numerous food safety violations.
According to the MOH, the amendments are crucial to build on the strengths of the current law while addressing its shortcomings with an end goal of creating a more comprehensive and effective food safety management system that can better protect public health and support the food industry’s development.
Commenting on this story, one national food poisoning lawyer said, “The health ministry should be applauded for recognizing gaps in their food safety laws and taking action to better ensure the safety of their people.”
