Monitoring the quality of agricultural products in the first 6 months of 2023, authorities have organized to take 8,164 samples of agro-forestry and aquatic products after harvest to analyze food safety norms, detecting 183 samples of food safety violations, accounting for 2.24% (the same period in 2022 is 3.6%; in 2021, it is 5.37%)
On 27/6, in Da Nang, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with the People’s Committee of Da Nang City organized a nationwide online conference on “Orientation of quality and processing work associated with market development of agricultural, forestry and fishery products”.
FOUND 183 SAMPLES OF INFRINGING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
Mr. Ngo Hong Phong, Deputy Director General of the Department of Quality, Processing and Development of Agricultural Markets, said that in the period of 2021 – 2023, although the implementation of the prevention and control of the Covid-19 epidemic is still difficult, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has focused on directing the completion and synchronous implementation of mechanisms and policies on food quality and safety in the direction of improvement administrative, practical suitability, creating conditions for enterprises to invest in agricultural, forestry and fishery production and trading safely and in harmony with international standards.
Specifically, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has implemented the Project on ensuring food safety and improving the quality of agricultural and forestry products, in the period of 2020 – 2030. The Ministry has also submitted to the Government for promulgation 19 documents (Decrees/Decisions/Directives); coordinate with the Ministry of Health in reviewing and completing guiding documents on the Law on Food Safety; directly promulgate 13 Circulars on quality management and food safety of agricultural, forestry and aquatic products; promulgate 98 TCVN and 07 QCVN on quality management of agricultural materials and food safety.
PROACTIVE UNSCHEDULED INSPECTION, STRICT CONTROL
According to Mr. Phong, there are still many shortcomings and limitations in ensuring food safety, increasing processing to improve quality for the development of agricultural, forestry and aquatic markets such as: The proportion of products under quality control, food safety at each stage and throughout the supply chain according to international standards is not high.
The concretization and organization of the implementation of policies to support production and business, associated with the consumption of safe agricultural products and food in many localities is slow, lacking creativity and innovation.
In order to continue improving the quality of agricultural, forestry and aquatic products and ensuring food safety, in the second half of 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will maintain the inspection and certification of establishments meeting food safety conditions and inspect the certification of agricultural products for export at the request of importing countries.
At the same time, actively organize specialized inspections according to plans and irregularities; promptly and strictly handle violations of food safety. Closely monitor and promptly handle food insecurity incidents; guide the handling and implementation of corrective measures for export shipments that violate food safety. Proactively evaluate and promptly provide food safety information to consumers, avoiding people lacking information leading to misunderstanding and confusion.
Along with that, renovating the work of disseminating, educating to raise awareness and actions to ensure food quality and safety in agricultural, forestry and fishery production and business and communication to promote quality, safe and traceable agro-forestry and aquatic products