Joining hands to protect consumers ‘rights and interests

In 2025, the Ministry of Industry and Trade selected the theme of “Transparent Information – Responsible Consumption” to mark Vietnam Consumer Rights Day (March 15), emphasizing the importance of clear, accurate information from producers and suppliers. The theme also calls for consumers to take an active role in fostering a civil and healthy consumption environment.

Transparent product information

Clean, safe and organic food consumption has seen a strong upward trend in recent years, accompanied by a positive shift in consumer awareness. As a result, businesses with integrity must not only provide quality products, but also ensure transparency in product information. In Binh Duong, many businesses have been paying close attention to implementing transparency standards and ensuring product quality in order to meet the growing demands of customers.

Established in 2012, Phu My A Food Production and Trading Co., Ltd. in Thu Dau Mot city has spent over a decade refining its operations. The company rebuilt its factory and adopted ISO 22000:2018 standards for its production and distribution of traditional, health-safe products like fresh pork rolls, fermented pork, steamed rice rolls... The company has applied biotechnology in its production process; raw materials are carefully selected, using only VietGAP-certified clean pork and fresh organic banana leaves, ensuring consumer health and safety. As a result, the company’s products have gained the trust of many consumers.

Vu Minh Duong, Director of Phu My A Food Production and Trading Co., Ltd., stated that the key factor to help enterprises build customer trust lies in product information transparency. For every product, the company clearly discloses information, avoids using additives, preservatives, texture enhancers, synthetic flavors and does not use plastic bags during production. The company also publicly posts its food safety certification in accordance with legal regulations, helping consumers feel more secure when using its products and fostering a strong connection between it and customers.

 In addition to Phu My A Food Production and Trading Co., Ltd., there are currently many businesses and producers in Binh Duong that provide products to the market with full certification of origin and product quality. These companies also display barcodes and QR codes for easy traceability. They include Tam Thanh Farm in North Tan Uyen district, Huynh Thanh Phong Netted Muskmelon Cooperative in Bau Bang district, Yen Hieu Hang Trading and Service Co., Ltd. in Phu Giao district and U&I Agricultural Joint Stock Company in Thu Dau Mot city.

According to Nguyen Van Ban, Chairman of provincial Consumer Protection Association, in the context of increasingly fierce market competition and the widespread presence of counterfeit, substandard and low-quality goods, transparency in providing product information is not only an obligation, but also a strategic approach that enables businesses to achieve sustainable development. Therefore, proactively disclosing information on product quality and origin, and applying technologies such as barcodes and QR codes to help consumers easily verify products, is considered an optimal solution to promote transparency and build consumer trust. In addition, businesses must also ensure the quality of after-sales services, customer care, promptly receive and address consumer complaints.

Raising consumers' awareness

Findings show that along with many businesses providing high-quality products with diverse designs that have earned consumer trust, there is still a significant amount of counterfeit goods, products with no clear origin and substandard items being sold on the market..

A representative of provincial Department of Industry and Trade stated that protecting consumers’ legitimate rights and interests is the responsibility of functional agencies, businesses, and society as a whole. Over the past time, relevant authorities have made coordinated efforts to implement various measures aimed at improving the effectiveness of consumer protection. One of the key solutions was to strengthen communication and education efforts to raise public awareness. Accordingly, propaganda activities have been organized in diverse formats towards targeted people, creating a broad and positive ripple effect throughout the community.

However, consumer protection is a long-term journey. To ensure the effectiveness of this work, in addition to the efforts of functional agencies, close cooperation between businesses and consumers is also essential. Businesses need to uphold ethical business practices, ensure transparency in product, service information and respect consumer rights. This, in turn, helps businesses build strong, reputable brands and achieve sustainable development in an increasingly competitive market environment.

According to provincial Market Control Department, along with the efforts by competent agencies and businesses, consumers also need to clearly understand their responsibilities and rights in their purchasing behavior to promote transparency in market information. When shopping, they should prioritize products with clear origins, carefully check packaging information, and use barcode scanning tools to verify products. In addition, consumers should raise their awareness of protecting their rights and interests by reporting counterfeit or substandard goods to related authorities...

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Trang, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Association for Consumer Protection emphasized that in the coming time, consumer rights protection efforts must closely follow and stem from actual consumption practices. She stressed that competent agencies and local authorities need to prioritize programs targeting vulnerable consumer groups such as students, the elderly and those living in rural and remote areas. It is also essential to maintain regular dialogues with businesses to foster strong connections between production and consumption, ensuring that consumers’ feedback is effectively conveyed to producers, service providers and retailers. Furthermore, competent authorities should promptly handle consumer complaints and demands, strictly punish any violations that infringe upon the legal rights and interests of consumers.

Reported by Thanh Hong-Translated by Kim Tin