Health Ministry proposes reducing food safety red tape

The Ministry of Health has proposed to the Government reducing or simplifying the number of administrative procedures in food safety management.

Deputy Director of the health ministry’s Vietnam Food Administration Tran Viet Nga said recently that five groups of administrative procedures had been proposed to be cut, including food production and trading conditions, announcement of food product and State inspection on foods, certification on meeting food safety standards, and food advertisement and food safety knowledge certification.

Specifically, the health ministry had proposed the reduction of eight out of 50 conditions related to food production and trading under the Decree 67/2016 NĐ-CP issued on July 1, 2016, of which five are for food producers and three are for food traders, Nga said.

Next month, the health ministry will also request the Government to amend three administrative procedures on food product announcements under the Decree 38/2012/NĐ-CP which details regulations on the implementation of some articles of the Food Safety Law.

The ministry proposes cutting down procedures on business licences, enterprise registration certifications for food importers or food safety certifications for imports, quality control and regular inspection of plants and detailed product information and samples.

“If the proposal is approved, the time on verifying food certificates would be reduced from six to three days for food imports.”

Nga added that the health ministry will ask the Government to revise several contents relating to the management of imported foods that are currently under State management of the ministries of industry and trade, and agriculture and rural development, with an aim to unify the State inspection procedure of the three ministries.

However, Nga said, groups of health food and nutrient food for children under 36 months of age and mixed foodstuffs locally produced in the country will still be strictly controlled and examined.

The health ministry also asked customs authorities to yearly inspect a maximum of 5 percent of imported products that have already been granted food safety licences by exporting countries that Vietnam has signed international agreements on mutual recognition on quality inspection, and products that have been manufactured by companies with HACCP or ISO 22000, GMP, IFS or BRC standards.

The ministry has launched its online public services, level 4, in several administrative procedures in the fields of food safety, drugs, cosmetics and medical equipment management.

The health ministry’s legal department director Nguyen Huy Quang said that the ministry has put in place plans to simplify its administrative procedures since 2010, cutting down 227 procedures and saving time and money for local and international enterprises.

In 2015, the health sector simplified many administrative procedures relating to examination and treatment, saving 300 billion VND (13 million USD) per year, according to him.

VNA

Other News

Vietnam moves to adapt to rapid population ageing, expand silver economy

Vietnam moves to adapt to rapid population ageing, expand silver economy

The International Day of Older Persons 2026, themed “The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives,” highlights the need to develop healthcare, social security, labour-market and social-service systems in response to increasing life expectancy. For Vietnam, rapid population ageing is not only a demographic issue but also a development challenge.

Vietnamese, Lao localities bolster Front cooperation

Vietnamese, Lao localities bolster Front cooperation

Both sides agreed to keep educating officials, Party members, youth union groups and the broader public, especially young people in both provinces, on the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion between Vietnam and Laos.

Urgent rescue launched for Merchant Mariner off Quang Ngai

Urgent rescue launched for Merchant Mariner off Quang Ngai

The captain discovered water entering ballast tanks No. 4, 5 and 6 on the port side, causing the vessel to list slightly. Initial assessments indicated that the vessel may have struck an underwater rock formation while underway.

Publishing copyright caught in crossfire of piracy, AI

Publishing copyright caught in crossfire of piracy, AI

Publishing copyright is entering an entirely new phase. As AI becomes increasingly capable of generating text, summarising books, mimicking writing styles and producing content at enormous speed, ensuring copyright protection is becoming more difficult.

Heavy rains cause widespread damage in Phu Tho, Thanh Hoa

Heavy rains cause widespread damage in Phu Tho, Thanh Hoa

Prolonged heavy rains from September 13–17 have caused flooding and landslides, damaging homes, crops, roads and infrastructure in Phu Tho and Thanh Hoa provinces, with local authorities mobilising forces for emergency response.

Quang Ninh police bust 38.4 million USD transnational cybercrime ring

Quang Ninh police bust 38.4 million USD transnational cybercrime ring

Quang Ninh city's Public Security Department warned individuals, agencies and businesses not to publicly disclose or provide personal information or bank account details on social media, and urged organisations and businesses to strictly comply with regulations on protecting customers’ personal data.

Search area expanded to recover more martyrs' remains in Quang Tri

Search area expanded to recover more martyrs' remains in Quang Tri

The continued recovery of martyrs’ remains provides valuable information and further evidence of those who fought and sacrificed their lives for national independence and freedom. It also encourages search teams to persist in locating fallen soldiers still lying on former battlefields, contributing to the effective implementation of the 500-day campaign and reflecting Vietnam’s long-standing tradition of gratitude.

Vietnam to screen students nationwide for five health risks from 2028

Vietnam to screen students nationwide for five health risks from 2028

Vietnam will launch nationwide screening for five groups of school-related diseases and health conditions among students from preschool through high school from 2028, including overweight and obesity, refractive errors, spinal curvature, oral diseases and mental health disorders.