HÀ NỘI — The National Action Month on Food Safety has been launched this year with the theme of “Say no to fake and substandard food and protect customers’ rights”.

The National Steering Committee on Food Safety and Hygiene launched the action month, which will run from April 15.

Experts from the Vietnam Food Administration (VFA) under the Ministry of Health noted that substandard food would have long-term consequences on people's health.

Last year, market watchdogs across the country conducted more than 14,200 inspections, according to incomplete statistics from the VFA. As many as 8,400 cases were fined a total of VNĐ19.5 billion (US$839,800).

Environmental police also discovered more than 6,100 food-safety violations. More than 5,000 individuals and more than 800 organisations were punished.

The action month's activities will include an education campaign that will call for everyone to obey food-safety regulations in food production and trading.

All people in the country should be proactive in preventing food pollution to limit the number of food poisoning cases and the spread of disease via unsafe food, the national steering committee said.

The People’s Committees at different levels should give guidance and assign more teams to inspect food safety and improve coordination between local authorities and social organisations in ensuring food safety and hygiene, it added.

Beginning on April 15, provinces and cities in the country will organise launch ceremonies and educational activities related to the action month. — VNS