Good changes in food safety in agriculture

In 2022, despite many difficulties and challenges, Binh Duong's agriculture and rural development achieved good results, especially in food quality assurance and food safety.

A booth displaying high-quality agricultural products at the 2022 supply and demand fair held in Binh Duong.

Effective in all areas

Binh Duong continues to stimulate the development of concentrated agricultural production areas, ensure food safety on 6,900 hectares of valuable crops such as: vegetables, mushrooms, fruit trees. Of which, there are about 580ha of organic farming production on crops, so far 172ha have been certified organic agriculture. Chicken raising currently has 149 farms, including companies investing in breeding, egg laying, and broiler chickens, with a total herd of 8.3 million heads. Raising pigs for meat and high-quality breeding pigs has 255 farms and nearly 323 hectares of aquaculture area.

According to Pham Van Bong, Director of Provincial Department of Agriculture & Rural Development, ensuring food safety in the agricultural sector is not only for the protection of public health, but also meets the requirements of domestic and export agricultural products consumption. Department of Agriculture & Rural Development directed its subordinate units to strengthen inspection and supervision of agricultural, forestry and fishery products, in order to ensure food hygiene and safety in the agricultural sector; strictly manage and control the origin of food consumed in the province.

To implement Circular 38/2018/TT-BNN&PTNT, units under Provincial Department of Agriculture & Rural Development conducted the appraisal and classification of 87 establishments, of which 48 establishments are classified as A, 37 are classified as B, and 8 are classified as C. Thereby, 87  food safety certificates were issued to 87 sufficient production and business establishments of agricultural and aquatic foods; conduct periodic inspection of 12 agricultural, forestry and fishery production and business establishments, of which 8 ones well maintained food safety conditions as prescribed.

In addition, the agricultural & rural development sector has coordinated with relevant sectors to set up 22 inspection teams, conduct inspections of 59 organizations and 1,381 individuals producing and trading agricultural products and food. Thereby, 459 administrative violations were detected and handled; sanctioned 1 organization, 99 individuals with a total fine of 304 million VND; transferred dossiers to request district-level People's Committees to sanction 359 individuals with a total amount of 1.6 billion VND; destroyed 360kg of meat of all kinds, total value was estimated at 40 million VND.

In addition, Binh Duong continued to maintain and develop the traceability system of agricultural, forestry, fishery and food products in the province, detected 443 cases of violations, total fine proposed was 1,883 million VND, and destroyed 1,607kg of meat of all kinds that did not meet veterinary hygiene standards… It can be said that, in the past time, the inspection and supervision of food quality and safety in agricultural sector made obvious changes in awareness of organizations and individuals producing and trading agricultural, forestry and fishery products.

To intensify propagation

Tran Phu Cuong, Director of Provincial Office of Livestock, Veterinary and Fisheries, said that the office strengthens information and propagation on food safety in agrcultural cultivation, husbandry, slaughtering, harvesting, preliminary processing, and preservation of food to ensure disease safety and food safety.

This sector stepped up the inspection, examination, and timely handled violations on food safety of agricultural, forestry and fishery products in accordance with provisions of law. Namely, the sector focuses on preliminary processing, processing and trading establishments of animals and animal products, aquatic products, and establishments producing and trading vegetables and fruits.

In addition, to strengthen sampling for monitoring and warning of risks causing food safety in agriculture, forestry and fishery; promote the construction of certified safe food supply chains; at the same time, to publicize the list and address of selling safe products on mass media; guide the order and procedures for certification of agricultural, forestry and fishery production, and business establishments meeting food safety conditions; professional sampling of agricultural, forestry and aquatic foods in performing state management.

To promote the achieved results, overcome existing obstacles, minimize violations of food safety in agriculture, it is necessary to re-consolidate the production process. In the coming time, the sector proposes key solutions: a plan to ensure food safety to improve the quality of agriculture, forestry and fishery in the agricultural sector in 2023 in the province; a joint program for dissemination of safe production and business establishments of agricultural products among relevant associations and branches. Besides, the sector continues to strengthen the propagation, promotion, and introduction of safe agricultural products, safe food chain products of localities.

At the same time, to develop a plan to implement the project "Ensuring food safety and improving the quality of agriculture, forestry and fishery in the period 2021-2030", organize the implementation of the contents in phases; promote the construction of safe food chains; consolidate the food safety quality management system at all levels, adjust the decentralization of food safety management to suit the actual situation.

The Provincial Office of Animal Husbandry, Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries carried out 19 inspections at 35 animal product business establishments and food service establishments in the province. The office detected and sanctioned 8 violation cases without certificates of quarantine of animal products, slaughtering animals at places not approved by competent State agencies; with a total fine of 56 million VND.  The office coordinated with relevant branches to set up 4 teams to inspect 91 establishments producing and trading agricultural materials in the province; 36 cases of administrative violations were detected and sanctioned, collected total fine of VND 370 million; forcibly destroyed 1 ton of fake fertilizer; recovered and recycled 15 liters of plant protection drugs and 21 tons of fertilizers of all kinds whose quality did not conform to the announced applicable standards.

Reported by Thoai Phuong - Translated by Ngoc Huynh