Establishing interconnected mechanisms between digital platforms

DNHN - In the context of rapidly developing e-commerce, managing product quality on digital platforms such as social networks and e-commerce marketplaces has become an urgent issue.

In the context of rapidly developing e-commerce, managing product quality on digital platforms such as social networks and e-commerce marketplaces has become an urgent issue. To protect consumers, it is necessary to establish an interconnected mechanism between these platforms to promptly eliminate substandard products.

Ms. Le Thi Ha, Head of E-commerce Management, Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy (Ministry of Industry and Trade), shared her views on this issue

What do the current legal regulations require regarding the origin of products on e-commerce platforms?

Ms. Le Thi Ha: Out of the total 50,334 e-commerce websites registered, around 5,669 websites sell food and beverages (11%), 1,423 websites deal in functional foods (3%), and 234 websites offer dining and culinary services to consumers (0.46%). The e-commerce management portal also records that of the 726 e-commerce platforms registered with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, 217 platforms allow merchants, organizations, and individuals to sell food and beverages (30%), 49 platforms post information on functional foods (7%), and 19 platforms offer dining and culinary services (3%).

Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has intensified the review, coordination, and handling of violations. In 2023, 17,234 products were removed, and 5,576 violating stores were blocked. In the first half of 2024 alone, technical measures implemented by the platforms resulted in the removal of nearly 400 products.

Current legal regulations clearly state the requirements for product origins on e-commerce platforms, particularly for food items. Food products, especially those that are pre-processed or fresh, must have a food safety certificate. E-commerce platform operators must require sellers to provide this information when listing their products. Additionally, they must store this information and manage sellers by requesting basic details such as tax codes and business addresses to ensure effective management and post-check processes.

In cases where the sale of goods does not comply with food safety and hygiene standards, how will the managing authorities handle it?

Ms. Le Thi Ha: When unsanitary food sales are detected, the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy collaborates with relevant agencies such as the Food Safety Department (Ministry of Health) to address the issue.

Based on information from investigative agencies like the Police, Market Management, consumer complaints, and business reports, the Department will require platform operators and e-commerce marketplaces to remove information about violating products. If the violation exceeds the scope of administrative penalties, the case may be referred to the competent authorities for criminal handling, depending on the severity of the offense.

What solutions are being implemented to tightly manage the quality of products traded in the online space?

Ms. Le Thi Ha: To tightly manage product quality in online transactions, the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy (Ministry of Industry and Trade) is implementing the following solutions:

Implementing Prime Minister's directive No. 18/CT-TTg: Focus on enhancing data connection and sharing to support e-commerce development, prevent tax evasion, and ensure monetary security.

Building and completing infrastructure and databases: The department is collaborating with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Ministry of Public Security, and relevant agencies under the Ministry of Industry and Trade to build and complete a shared e-commerce database.

Enhancing management of transactions, sellers, and platforms: The creation of a shared e-commerce database helps enhance the management of transactions, sellers, and platforms, ensuring compliance with legal regulations and protecting consumer rights.

Do you have any recommendations for businesses engaged in e-commerce, especially for food products?

Ms. Le Thi Ha: E-commerce platform operators typically do not directly sell products, so the primary responsibility lies with the sellers for their products. However, platform operators must ensure compliance with current legal regulations when allowing sellers to trade food products. This ensures that all parties have the most updated information, especially for products flagged by regulatory or investigative agencies.

E-commerce platforms should continuously adjust and remove flagged products, ensuring they do not appear on their sites. Additionally, platforms should regularly self-check and review to ensure non-compliant products are no longer sold after receiving consumer feedback or alerts from regulatory agencies. Large e-commerce platforms usually cooperate well with state management requests to remove violating products, ensuring legal compliance and consumer protection.

Anh Nguyen