Authorities inspect food safety at a canteen in Đình Trám Industrial Park, Bắc Ninh Province. — Photo baobacninh.vn

HÀ NỘI – Hà Nội and Bắc Giang northern province have agreed a co-operation programme to develop safe agricultural product consumption from 2016-2020. 

At the seminar held in Hà Nội on Tuesday, Trần Thị Phương Lan, deputy director of Hà Nội Department of Trade and Industry said it was an annual joint programme with three main contents: Bắc Giang will set up an association from safe agro-product growing to consumption, select key agro-products that were produced in accordance with the biological safety process, and stabilise the supply to the capital city.

Hà Nội will organise events to introduce the city’s commodities at Bắc Giang market.

For this year’s plan, Hà Nội Department of Trade and Industry will hold two events for Lục Ngạn litchis sales in the city (in mid June) and in Bắc Giang Province (in November).      

Deputy Chairman of Hà Nội People’s Committee, Nguyễn Doãn Toản said the city will create favourable condition for lorries weighing under 5 tonnes to carry Bắc Giang agricultural products to the city. 

City authorities will support Bắc Giang Province’s enterprises in expanding consumption market including at whole-sale markets, supermarkets and processing companies, he said.

Dương Văn Thái, deputy chairman of Bắc Giang People’s Committee said the programme would help Hanoians purchase safe agricultural products and help farmers.

Bắc Giang authorities determined creating safe products started from safe seed production and safe breeding.

Besides establishing safe product trade names, Bắc Giang enterprises will use brand- name stamps to attest to the origin of products.

Toản said proving safe origins would ensure sustainable agricultural development with quality products.

According to the Hà Nội Plant Protection Department, safe vegetable distribution in the city are through six forms: agricultural enterprises contracts with supermarkets (accounting for 1.5 per cent of total safe vegetable output), retail agencies (1.5 per cent), restaurants or collective kitchens (1.8 per cent).

The other forms include whole-sale traders (12.6 per cent), farmers themselves carrying vegetable to sell at residential quarter’s market (26.8 per cent) or at whole-sale markets (55.8 per cent).         

The department has granted certification on safe vegetable production to 5,100ha in the city.

Nguyễn Duy Hùng, the department director said safe vegetables without brand-name stamps were sold at residential areas and whole-sale markets. — VNS