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2017/SCSC/FSCF/EM/005 Day 1 Session 3

Food Safety in Viet Nam: Journey to Modernization

Submitted by: Viet Nam

First Expert Meeting on Trade Facilitation Through an APEC Framework on Food Safety

ModernisationHa Noi, Viet Nam

15-17 November 2017

FOOD SAFETY IN VIETNAM JOURNEY TO MODERNIZATION

DR. NGUYEN HUNG LONG

DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL, VIETNAM FOOD ADMINISTRATION

CONTENT

Overview

Drivers of Change

Modernization process

Looking forward

VIET NAM

AN OVERVIEW

FACTSHEET

▪ Surface area: 331,000km2

▪ Population: 92.7 millions

▪ Nominal GDP: $2,000 per capita

CUISINE

BUN CHA OBAMA

BANH MI MALCOLM

DRIVERS OF CHANGE MODERNIZATION OF FOOD SAFETY MANAGEMENT

INTERNAL DRIVERS OF CHANGE

1. Food safety is crucial to public health

▪ Resolution 34/2009

sets the basis for advancing food safety management

▪ The National Strategy on Food Safety in Period of 2011 - 2020 and with a vision to 2030 set general targets

to implement a master plan for food safety from production to consumption and by 2020 to establish effective food safety control over the entire food supply chain

INTERNAL DRIVERS OF CHANGE

2. Application of preventive measures is imperative

▪ National Plan on Food Safety in Period 2012 – 2015

Improve food safety control by improving food safety management network, from Central to Local government

Focus on Farm – to – Table integrated system

Risk-based priorities and actions

Emphasis on prevention

EXTERNAL DRIVERS OF CHANGE

1. Growing complexity of food industry

Rising living

standards

Rising GDP

Increasing population

Increase in tourism

Increase in expats

community

EXTERNAL DRIVERS OF CHANGE

2. Globalization requires updates on government parts to facilitate trade and ensure fair competition

▪ Prevent non-tariff barriers

▪ Mandatory for WTO Member States

▪ Food safety legislation must be risk-based

▪ Exception during emergencies

MODERNIZATION PROCESS

MODERNIZATION PROCESS

Updated legal framework - Issuance of Food Safety Law 2010

Risk-based approach as principle of food safety management

Develop food safety system following farm-to-table approach

Division of responsibilities among three Ministries: line Ministries are responsible to respective groups of products throughout the supply chain

▪ Establish legal framework and initiate process for application of GMP, GAP, GHP, HACCP and similar management system

▪ Encourage harmonization to facilitate food trade

Cen

tral

Ste

erin

g C

om

mit

tee

on

Food S

afet

y

Ministry of Industry and Trade

Department of IT

Ministry of Agriculture Dept. of Nafiqad

Ministry of Health Sub-VFA

FOOD SAFETY LAW 2010

MODERNIZATION PROCESS

Encourage harmonization to facilitate food trade

Adoption of Codex Standards

Being WHO member state, follow obligations to implement the provisions of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005)

In 2014 Vietnam negotiated a free trade agreement with the European Union giving the country access to the EU's Generalized System of Preferences

MODERNIZATION PROCESS

1. Transforming custom practice by incorporating risk-based approach

Strict inspection

• Document review

• Submission of testing analysis of product sampling

Standard inspection

• Document review

• Review of product sampling at the border

Reduced inspection

• Document review

2 passes in a row

3 passes in a row

MODERNIZATION PROCESS

2. Implementing national single window system

MOH

MODERNIZATION PROCESS

3

9.3

11.9

1.5

5.5

6.5

REDUCED STANDARD STRICT

No.of days for customs

Before NSW After NSW

Within a year of implementation (6/2015-9/2016)

LOOKING FORWARD

CHALLENGES

1. Unsafe living habits and business conducts

▪ Vietnamese people are accustomed to small and family business conducts that pose serious health risks to the society

Trading unregulated products

Unsanitized street food

▪ Small and family businesses with low business ethics are common practices

Use of banned chemical on plants and animals

E.g: the case of alcohol poisoning in 2017

CHALLENGES

2. Lack of resources

Human Finance Technical

FUTURE OF FOOD SAFETY MANAGEMENT

▪ Review of Food Safety Law completed by the National Assembly in 2016 identified key areas for development

▪ The Government will carry out Law review in the near future to address those issues and amend the Law accordingly

▪ Pilot program to unite food safety management authorities: Food Safety Management Authority of Ho Chi Minh City

▪ Pilot program Specialized Inspection in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

▪ Reduce administrative procedures

▪ Encourage harmonization and mutual recognition through bilateral and/or multilateral agreements

Web site: vfa.gov.vn