Ministry of Agriculture seeks to enhance food safety

Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong has defined ensuring food safety as a key task of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in 2017.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong

He told a conference on February 10 that the ministry would focus on changing the awareness of both producers and consumers on the safety of agricultural products as a critical measure in dealing with this issue.

He added that the ministry would step up control over the use of inputs in agricultural production, especially pesticides, which are a main source of pollution.

Last year the MARD banned 300 types of pesticides and will continue to name those deemed to be harmful to the environment.

Curbing the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry and aquaculture and fertilisers in farming is also a major task to be implemented in 2017.

Minister Cuong said it is necessary to encourage producers to shift from synthetic to organic fertilisers, elaborating that Vietnam uses up to 12 million tonnes of synthetic fertilisers annually which reduces the quality of produce and pollutes the environment.

He added that calling for investment from financially capable companies in agriculture is a long-term solution to clean agriculture.

Nguyen Nhu Tiep, director of the National Agro-Forestry and Fishery Quality Assurance Department, said in 2017 the agency would seek to reduce biological contamination and residues of chemicals and antibiotics in food.

(Source: NDO)