HÀ NỘI – The health ministry has asked Hà Nội and HCM City to expand specialised inspection on food safety to 100 per cent of its districts and communes after successful trial implementation of this model.

Inspections will also be made in other localities such as Hải Phòng, Cần Thơ, Đà Nẵng, Thanh Hóa, Hà Tĩnh, Gia Lai and Đồng Nai.

The order was made at a conference held in Hà Nội yesterday to review the results of the specialised food safety inspection model in Hà Nội and HCM City. The inspection involved the participation of the Ministries of Health, Agriculture and Rural Development, and Industry and Trade.  

The specialised inspection on food safety was carried out in 10 districts and 20 communes and wards of the two cities on a trial basis between November 2015 and November 2016 following the Prime Minister’s decision.

During the period, Hà Nội inspectors examined more than 3,500 food establishments and found 786 establishments violating regulations. More than 370 establishments were fined over VNĐ1 billion (US$44,000) in total.

Meanwhile, HCM City inspectors discovered more than 2,100 violated establishments after inspecting nearly 4,000 ones. As many as 923 units were fined a total of over VNĐ4 billion ($177,000) for violations.

Deputy Minister of Health Trương Quốc Cường said the inspections helped to improve the effectiveness of State management on food safety and hygiene and raise awareness of both food businesses and consumers of abiding by related regulations.

However, he noted that localities still face difficulties in human resources. The shortage of specialised staff on food safety, particularly at communes and wards, affected the implementation of the project. - VNS