Fruit and veggie safety to be tightened

May 06, 2017 - 09:00

The pilot project to put origin-tracing stamps on vegetable and fruits has gained initial success after three months, a senior official has said.

A customer examines produce at a Co.opmart supermarket in HCM City. — VNA Photo Thanh Vũ
Viet Nam News

HCM CITY – The pilot project to put origin-tracing stamps on vegetable and fruits has gained initial successes after three months, a senior official has said.

Speaking at Thursday’s review meeting for the project, Trn Ngc H, deputy director of the HCM City’s Agriculture and Rural Development Department, said: “At the beginning, the project met customer demand for safe vegetables and fruits.”

Phưc An and Phú Lc cooperatives are producing a total of eight to 10 tonnes of vegetable and fruits per day.

The products have been sold in supermarkets including Co.op Mart, Big C, Aeon and Vinmart.

In the coming time, the department would encourage more cooperatives to join the project, but “they will have to meet quality and safety for products,” H said.

To encourage more suppliers for safe vegetables and fruit, the city has applied an interest-support policy and set aside 30 per cent of investment capital to set up organic agricultural production.

“Authorities should announce standards about origin-tracing stamps in order to ensure quality of the service,” Nguyn Trưng Sơn, deputy chairman of the High-Tech Agriculture Club, said.

“Food processors are applying more modern technologies and higher standards for tracing origins so authorities should adjust regulations to be in line with the current situation,” said Nguyn Th Hng Minh, chairwoman of the Traceverified Limited Company.

She said that 30 food companies had used origin-tracing services to build up customer confidence in their products. – VNS

 

 

 

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