Directive No. 18/1999/CP-UB on enhancing efforts to ensure food quality and food safety hygiene.

DIRECTIVE

On Strengthening Work to Ensure Food Quality and Safety

Food quality and safety directly, continuously, and over the long term affect the health of each individual and the entire population. Consuming food products that do not meet food quality and safety standards can cause acute poisoning for users or genetic mutations in future generations.

In recent years, the situation of food poisoning due to non-compliance with food quality and safety standards has increasingly shown a rising trend. One of the main reasons is the lack of effective coordination among state management agencies responsible for food quality and safety regarding production and business establishments, food service providers, and communication activities have been limited, failing to promote users' self-awareness and create widespread public opinion ensuring food quality and safety. This situation not only causes damage to individuals' health, lives, and economy but also affects the overall labor force and domestic goods and services.

Protecting and caring for people's long-term health is a common cause and responsibility of all levels of government and society. To implement Directive No. 08/1999/CT-TTg of the Government Prime Minister, addressing the lax management of food quality and safety, restoring discipline in the field of food production and business, and food service, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee instructs:

1. The People's Committees of districts, cities, and towns direct relevant functional sectors to organize propaganda and dissemination of legal regulations on food quality and safety to food production and business establishments and food service providers within their jurisdiction, particularly focusing on the hygiene of ready-to-eat foods and street food; direct market management boards to strictly implement environmental and food hygiene regulations; apply necessary measures to restore order and discipline in the field of food production and business, and food service.

2. The Department of Health takes the lead in coordinating with related sectors, directing health centers to advise local authorities in organizing inspection and handling teams to inspect and address violations of food quality and safety laws against targets such as restaurants, food processing establishments, ready-to-eat food establishments, and small eateries in densely populated areas like markets, ports, bus stations, town centers, and urban areas; collective kitchens of enterprises, offices, schools, slaughterhouses, and food processing establishments.

Direct healthcare facilities to strengthen health education and disseminate general knowledge about food quality and safety.

Direct healthcare facilities to prepare adequate conditions for timely emergency treatment to minimize negative consequences from food poisoning. Annually, take the lead in advising the organization of a month-long campaign for food quality and safety according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health.

4. The Provincial Public Security Department directs public security forces at all levels to regularly coordinate with the Health Department and other functional sectors in inspections and strict handling of violators of Decree No. 36/CP dated May 29, 1995 of the Government concerning traffic order and safety in urban areas; coordinate with related sectors to investigate and handle cases of producing fake food causing serious consequences.

5. The Department of Commerce and Tourism directs market management agencies to proactively and coordinate with the Health Department to inspect and handle the sale and circulation of fake food products and those not meeting food quality and safety standards, failing to comply with packaging and labeling regulations.

6. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development directs the Animal Health Service and Plant Protection Service to effectively manage and guide on animal slaughter hygiene, requirements, and procedures for using chemical plant protection substances, specialized drugs, and fertilizers to ensure consumer health.

7. Sectors managing food production and processing establishments instruct these establishments to strictly comply with food quality and safety regulations.

8. The Department of Culture, Sports, and Information, Phu Tho Newspaper, and Provincial Radio and Television Station allocate appropriate media time for the dissemination of legal education and knowledge about food quality and safety.

9. The Department of Science and Technology, Environmental Protection, Finance, and Price Control, and related sectors within their functions and responsibilities cooperate with the Health Department to ensure necessary conditions to strengthen food quality and safety assurance work.

10. Request the Provincial Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and people's organizations, social organizations to mobilize members to closely cooperate with local authorities in implementing food quality and safety assurance work.

Assign the Department of Health to guide, supervise, and inspect the implementation of this directive, compile and report to the Provincial People's Committee and the Ministry of Health as prescribed./.