PM urges Ho Chi Minh City to develop clean food supply chains

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on October 8 asked Ho Chi Minh City to develop clean food supply chains by collaborating with other locales to form safe farming areas.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc addresses the working session with the HCMC People's Committee on October 8.

He made the request while working with municipal leaders after suddenly inspecting food facilities in Binh Chanh and Tan Phu Districts and a Coop Mart supermarket in District 11.

Ho Chi Minh City needed to intensify its inspection of food safety and hygiene and encourage food processing facilities to ensure food safety, he said, adding that anyone violating food safety regulations would be strictly punished.

He instructed the southern city to invest more in mobile testing labs in wholesale markets as well as equipment to check food safety.

According to municipal leaders, HCMC has paid due attention to ensuring food safety, with the development of clean and safe food production models, the formation of safe food supply chains and the application of good manufacturing practices (GMP) and a HACCP-based food safety management system.

However, due to small-scale production, the city’s agricultural output only meets 20-30% of its demand, and the remainder has to be imported from other locales.

Since September 1, 2015, the relevant forces carried out inspections of food safety at 1,158 out of 7,097 facilities and fined 396 of them.

Earlier, the PM went on a fact-finding trip to Tan Phu District, where he enjoyed a bowl of phở at small eatery, checked the process of preparing meals for workers in Binh Chanh District and visited a Coop Mart supermarket on Ly Thuong Kiet Street.

(Source: NDO)