In an attempt to improve the standards of food safety in Vietnam, the Vietnam Food and Beverage Group under the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry was launched in Hanoi on May 18th.
Vietnam’s alarming food safety situation was highlighted at the launch ceremony. According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, there were about 1,200 food poisoning cases in Vietnam from 2007 to 2013, with nearly 30,000 hospitalised and 300 killed. Low standards in food safety have also affected the country’s exports. In 2015, the rate of Vietnam seafood rejected by the US was 6 times higher than the previous year, despite the US being a major market for Vietnamese agro-products.
"Control over input materials for food manufacturing in Vietnam isn’t strict. Input material sources aren’t reliable. These factors present great difficulties for food businesses and manufacturers", Nguyen Van Viet - Chairman of Vietnam Beer - Alcohol - Beverage Association said.
The Vietnam Food and Beverage Group was launched as part of efforts to enhance food safety in Vietnam. One of the objectives of VFBG is to contribute to enhancing the food safety supervisory capacity of government agencies and to help Vietnam’s laws and regulations on food safety conform to recent trade agreements.
"There needs to be a strategic approach to food safety. The Ministry of Health’s Food Safety Administration together with the US Food and Drug Administration should sign an MoU of co-operation to provide technical assistance that Vietnam needs", Herb Chochran - Executive Director of Amcham Ho Chi Minh City Chapter - said.
Including members of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, retailers and food manufacturers in Vietnam, VFBG also aims at connecting businesses to create chains of clean food supply and distribution in the coming time.
