Phu Tho: Promoting the Safety of Food Consumption and Production

DNHN - Sustainable food quality and safety management can be achieved through the establishment and development of food chains in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, with the ultimate aim of promoting safe food production and consumption.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development continues to direct specialized units to provide guidance and coordination with districts, cities, and existing visas to replicate, establish, and develop sustainable chain links. The efficacy of Provincial People's Council Promulgating Policy Regulations No. 22/2021/NQ-HDND dated December 9, 2021, to encourage and support agricultural and rural development in Phu Tho province.

In a recent directive, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development instructed the Department of Quality Management of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, its affiliated units, and localities to effectively establish a food chain system that ensures the safety of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products. Additionally, the directive mandates the tracing of product origin.

Agricultural, forestry, and fishery product-producing and trading establishments and businesses have concurrently supplied supermarket chains including GO Supermarket, Walmart Supermarket, Coop Mart Supermarket, and others.

108 safe food supply chains from agriculture, forestry, and fishing have been implemented to date; these include tea, vegetables, grapefruit, pork, chicken, and mushrooms. Out of the total, 59 product chains are derived from animals and 49 from plants. 194 products and product groups have been acknowledged for meeting OCOP standards of 3 stars or higher. Among these, one product has been awarded the prestigious 5-star rating, 46 products have been awarded 4-star ratings, and 147 products have been awarded 3-star ratings.

Nevertheless, the correlation between establishments' operations and production is tenuous and unreliable; the range and quantity of available products remain restricted, and the selling price of products has failed to live up to producers' expectations. As a result, the replication of secure food supply chains remains limited in scope.

Director of the Department of Quality Management of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Mr. Do Anh Tuan stated, "We are constantly focused on implementing safe food chains in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries by concentrating on solutions and tasks." In particular, advocate for the dissemination of information and propaganda, as well as legal regulations governing business operations and food and agricultural production, safe manufacturing processes, and food safety measures; ensure that producers and consumers safely utilize food.

In addition, ensure that production and business establishments receive enhanced training and guidance regarding the implementation of linked chain management principles and activity organization; ensure that standards, regulations, and safe production processes are adhered to by cooperatives, businesses, cooperative groups, and small-scale farming households. Provide directives to facilities to conduct internal monitoring to ensure adherence to safe production processes and maintain product quality throughout the entire linked chain, including production, preliminary processing, processing, and trading.

P.V