Check and handle violating facilities

Pursuant to Decision No. 2728/QD-UBND dated August 31, 2023 of the People's Committee of Nghe An province on inspecting the compliance with regulations on ensuring food safety during the Mid-Autumn Festival 2023 in the province, an interdisciplinary inspection team was established. The team is chaired by the Department of Industry and Trade, in coordination with the Department of Health, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Provincial Police, and the Provincial Fatherland Front to assess the compliance with legal regulations on ensuring food safety of establishments producing, trading, importing food, and providing catering services; assess the State management of food safety by the People's Committees (Interdisciplinary Steering Committees) of districts, cities, and towns during the Mid-Autumn Festival 2023.

From September 8 to 21, the interdisciplinary delegation focused on inspecting establishments producing and trading food products: confectionery, soft drinks, especially establishments producing and trading moon cakes. Accordingly, the delegation inspected food safety assurance during the Mid-Autumn Festival at 16 establishments in Vinh city and some localities such as Thanh Chuong, Hoang Mai town, Quynh Luu. The inspection showed that compared to previous years, food production and trading establishments in the area have been more aware and responsible in ensuring food hygiene and safety for Mid-Autumn Festival confectionery. Most establishments have ensured food safety regulations on facilities, equipment and utensils; food processing and preservation processes; origin of raw materials, food additives, etc.

Mr. Vo Minh Tuan - Chief Inspector of the Department of Industry and Trade, Deputy Head of the interdisciplinary inspection team said: “In Vinh city, the team inspected 16 establishments, fined 2 establishments, with a total fine of 14 million VND. Of which, 1 establishment producing various types of cakes violated the conditions of food preservation by not having adequate shelves; and 1 establishment providing food services but the drainage ditch in the kitchen area was not covered. Along with the fines, the inspection team requested localities to continue to monitor and urge establishments to strictly implement regulations on food hygiene and safety.”

At the same time, the interdisciplinary inspection team also inspected and worked with the Food Safety Steering Committees of Thanh Chuong, Tan Ky, and Anh Son districts to review and evaluate the implementation of regulations to ensure food safety during the 2023 Mid-Autumn Festival in the districts.

In Thanh Chuong district, the area extends to all communes far from the center, traffic is difficult, so inspection takes a lot of time to travel. Officials of the Thanh Chuong district interdisciplinary delegation said that the economic conditions of small-scale producers and businesses still face many difficulties, there are establishments that only operate seasonally, so information and awareness of food hygiene and safety are limited, making it very difficult to manage all establishments operating in this type.

In addition, the inspection and handling of food production, processing and trading establishments face many difficulties in terms of equipment for inspection work, and the level of expertise and professionalism in food safety work is limited, because the staff work part-time. Although there are many difficulties in inspection and handling, the district has made efforts in ensuring food safety in the area.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Hien - Vice Chairman of Thanh Chuong District People's Committee said: During the Food Safety Action Month 2023, the interdisciplinary delegation of Thanh Chuong District inspected food production, processing and trading establishments. A total of 20 food production, trading and processing establishments were inspected in the area, 4 establishments were found to have committed administrative violations, and 5 establishments were fined VND 5,450,000. The main violations were: Not posting prices, trading in goods of unknown origin, and processing places were infested with harmful insects.

Strengthening food safety management

The market for moon cakes this year decreased by about 40% compared to the same period last year. However, through the inspection, violations of food safety laws were promptly detected, prevented, and strictly handled. At the same time, it combined propaganda work, guidance on legal regulations, and proposed solutions to improve the effectiveness of food safety management. Thereby, contributing to the good work of ensuring food safety, in order to care for and protect people's health.

Mr. Vo Minh Tuan - Chief Inspector of the Department of Industry and Trade said: The inspection team focused on food products that are produced, traded, imported, widely used in the market and have high risks, focusing on food items serving the Mid-Autumn Festival. The inspection process is combined with propaganda work, disseminating regulations, raising awareness and consciousness of the community in ensuring food safety. Timely detection, strict handling of violations, recalling and destroying substandard products, announcing on mass media according to the law.

“Compared to previous years, traditional mooncake products produced at establishments in the province are quite trusted by customers. Product quality and designs are increasingly improved. In addition, mooncake production establishments in the area, whether enterprises or households, all pay attention to ensuring food safety for the cakes they make, such as: investing in facilities, learning and implementing food safety regulations to comply with the law, and self-declaring products. Therefore, many brands from production households in the area have been confidently chosen by consumers,” Mr. Tuan assessed.

Obviously, in addition to people's awareness in choosing food with clear origin and expiry date, the active participation of functional agencies in the province in inspecting, controlling and handling violations of food safety also contributes significantly to helping people celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival safely and happily./.