The above comment was made by Mr. Cao Thanh Binh, Head of the Culture - Social Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council, at a survey on food safety management at Binh Dien wholesale market (District 8), which took place on the night of August 8 and early morning of August 9.

Will hold accountable if spontaneous markets "explode"

Mr. Binh said that the purpose of building 3 wholesale markets is to gather small retail markets into one center, making it easier to tightly control the supply of goods to the city. However, the operation process is not as expected, especially the problem of spontaneous markets.

"Wholesale markets supply a large amount of food to the city. Therefore, no matter what we do, if we cannot control the surrounding area of ​​the wholesale markets, we cannot talk about ensuring food safety," Mr. Binh affirmed.

Speaking at the survey, representatives of the People's Committee of Binh Chanh District and the People's Committee of District 8 said that recently, they have launched a campaign to punish many cases related to encroachment on the sidewalk, illegal business, rickshaws, three-wheeled vehicles... around the business area of ​​Binh Dien market.

However, these two localities confirmed that due to regulations and lack of human resources, they have difficulty in checking and handling spontaneous and illegal businesses, especially on Nguyen Van Linh - Quan Trong Linh route.

According to local reports, Mr. Binh said that around the Binh Dien wholesale market area, there are 62 unlicensed selling points under the management of District 8 and 11 unlicensed selling points in Binh Chanh district, which is not okay.

"We have left more than 70 points open and uncontrolled. What do District 8 and Binh Chanh District think if the goods at these points enter the city, what will happen to people's health?

"The two localities are requested to take strong and serious action. If their capacity is not sufficient, the city should increase its forces. In case of recurrence at an increased level, the responsibility of the collective and individuals must be considered," the head of the survey team emphasized.

Mr. Nguyen Nguyen Phuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City, said that the city currently has hundreds, even thousands of retail markets, collective kitchens, food suppliers... If the wholesale markets are not well controlled, the subsequent inspection will be very difficult and very difficult.

"We cannot manage by letting the chickens out to chase them, but we must increase the responsibility of the manufacturer by increasing traceability, because traceability makes it easier to manage, control, and recall products when needed. In addition, we need to increase the installation of cameras to impose fines, and put up no-stopping and no-parking signs on spontaneous business routes."

Expand the market scale, increase the frequency of inspection and sampling

Mr. Nguyen Minh Nhut, Deputy Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council, said that unsafe food sources affect health and cost society. Therefore, controlling the quality of goods through wholesale markets is very important.

"The wholesale markets have been around for 20 years now, it's time to re-evaluate development goals, orientations, strategies... to see if a complete restructuring is necessary," Mr. Nhut emphasized, suggesting that information technology should be applied early in management.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Le Minh Hai, Deputy Director of the City Food Safety Department, said that the source of goods in circulation is very large when 3 wholesale markets supply 70-80% of the food for the city, so there are times when it is difficult to control. In particular, we have not been able to control and monitor the initial source from the provinces.

"To control from the source, the industry and trade and agriculture sectors need to participate. In the coming time, the food safety management sector will resolutely carry out propaganda for traders and individuals participating in the production and business process, and increase the number of samples taken for monitoring," said Mr. Hai.