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Gov’t to crack down on false information on food hygiene

VGP – Deputy PM Nguyen Thien Nhan has called for tougher punishments on press agencies which have published false news about food additives that cause serious losses for farmers.

April 26, 2012 4:52 PM GMT+7

Deputy PM Nguyen Thien Nhan  (standing) presides over the video-teleconference, Ha Noi, April 26, 2012 – Photo: VGP/Tu Luong

Deputy PM Nhan made the call on Thursday at a video-teleconference with 63 local leaders on food hygiene.

Mr. Nhan assigned the Ministry of Public Health (MoH), the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) to publish a joint circular which will detail strict punishments on violators.

The move is taken following a series of rumors published by some press agencies without accurate evidence, having caused puzzles and severe losses for agricultural producers.

Minister of Public Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien said that the tasks of food hygiene inspection and punishment have been improved positively. Especially, transport and environment police forces have contributed to timely expose serious cases of unhygienic food.

Mr. Tran Trong Binh, Deputy Director of the Environment Police Department (C49) under the Ministry of Public Security recommended the Government direct relevant ministries to early issue the circular to prosecute serious cases on food hygiene infringements.

Deputy PM Nhân asked his inferiors to raise people’s awareness of food hygiene to boycott unhygienic food, prohibited food additives and slaughtering of poultry and animals in dirty conditions.

In addition, food hygiene will be put under control at collective kitchens especially in industrial parks.

Localities will be categorized in terms of food hygiene.

The MoH and the MARD was assigned to issue the list of prohibited substances in food and breeding./.

By Huong Giang