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| An inspection team inspects a collective kitchen in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Ngọc |
Viet Nam News
HÀ NỘI — Nearly 28,000 out of 154,000 food businesses in Hà Nội were found to have violated food safety regulations and faced fines of more than VNĐ14 billion (US$594,700) since August last year.
The announcement was made by Nguyễn Khắc Hiền, deputy chairman of Hà Nội Food Safety Administration’s steering committee, at a conference held by the city’s health department for ensuring food safety in the city.
Of the violators, more than 1,000 units had to pay fines exceeding a total of VNĐ5.3 billion (US$225,000) and had their unsafe food destroyed worth over VNĐ3 billion (US$127,300).
The lack of qualified officials for inspection activities is hampering food safety management in the capital, according to Trần Ngọc Tụ, head of Hà Nội’s Food Safety and Hygiene Administration.
Small food production and trading facilities without business certificates at the commune level have not met food safety standards. A majority of consumers continue to buy cheap food without considering its quality, he stressed.
The operation of unhygienic livestock and poultry slaughterhouses, the increasing overuse of chemicals in food production and difficulties in food safety controls for imported food products are also causing problems for authorities. — VNS
