Launching the "Action Month for Food Safety" 2015

Morning April 15^th, Ben Cat town Steering Committee of Food Safety (SCFS) cooperated with provincial SCFS to hold a launching ceremony of “Action Month for Food Safety" 2015. Participants of the ceremony consisted of Mr. Tran Thanh Liem, member of provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of PPC, Head of provincial SCFS, leaders of relevant departments, local authorities, businesses, schools, food businesses, restaurants, canteens and numerous officials, Youth Union members, students, workers in Ben Cat town.

The launching ceremony was identified as the beginning of a campaign to strengthen ensuring food safety in Action Month, thus the preparation for the launching ceremony was paid much attention by SCFS of Ben Cat town and the province.

Contributing to the success of the event were 16 parading flower cars and motorbikes of Department of Health, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Veterinary, 9 localities, and 3 food-producing businesses in the province. This was a useful direct communication activity that could help businesses to understand, abide by food safety laws; convey the basic messages about food safety, contribute to raising people’s awareness of food safety.

Parading cars at the launching ceremony of “Action Month for Food Safety" 2015.

According to provincial SCFS, food safety control in the province in recent years has been improved, due to attention of local Party, government and community. Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Deputy Director Mr. Pham Van Bong said, during the last year, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development cooperated with Department of Health and Department of Trade and Industry to advise provincial SCFS and PPC to stipulate projects, programs implementing timely legal documents; instruct food businesses to comply with food safety laws.

In addition, departments have worked closely to disseminate laws and regulations on food safety as well as inspect, examine and handle violations. Most concerned issues, like: food poisoning, residues of plant protection chemicals, toxic preservatives, poor quality of food from unknown origins, flu poultry, rotten meat… have been monitored and notified timely to consumers.

In addition to launching ceremony, the Action Month this year will focus on three key contents: media campaigns of food safety, inspection and monitoring of food contamination in provincial market, and examination.  

Food is a daily necessity of people. But unsafe food will affect negatively people’s health, and social development. Therefore, selected topic of this year’s Action Month was “Producing, trading, consuming safe vegetables and meat” with the aim to improve business and consumer’s awareness of food safety ensuring, especially vegetables and meat – the most popular food. Attending the ceremony, Ms. Phan Hong Man living in quarter 6, Thoi Hoa ward, Ben Cat town said: “Previously, I used to buy food but did not care about its origin. Today, thanks to this ceremony, I pay more attention to food safety. Before using, I check labels, expiration day, origins when buying food, and buy food at prestige stores”.

This year, Ben Cat town was chosen as the place to organize the launching ceremony of “Action Month for Food Safety" 2015. Ben Cat town People’s Committee Vice Chairwoman Tran Thi Thao said: “Besides achieved results, we have encountered many difficulties. Hence, every individuals, agencies need to put more effort to disseminate, examine food safety to protect people’s health”.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Mr. Tran Thanh Liem said: “consumers need to improve awareness of hazards of foods of unknown origin, no label, or expiration. People should struggle against violations of food safety, report to the authorities when detecting violated businesses. Agencies and departments have to strengthen inspection, handle seriously and strictly individuals, businesses producing, selling unsafe food”.

Reported by H.Thuan – Translated by Ngoc Huynh