People shop in a supermarket in HCM City
Ben Thanh Market in District 1 and Hoc Mon Wholesale market will be selected as the first locations for the sale of safe goods this year. All the goods, including meat, vegetables, fruits, would be carefully checked with origins and quality.
The department said that after these two markets, they will expand the project to 12 other markets from 2017-2020 and then all markets in the city.
Scared by chemical-fed cattle and chemical-sprayed greens which are rampant in many local markets and even some supermarkets, many local people have turned to several newly opened fair-style markets for their daily food.
Local authorities have also tried some measures to manage the quality of goods sold at markets.
Duong Hoa Xo, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that they are considering launching community-based market sessions exclusive to farmers and businesses obtaining Vietnamese Good Agricultural Practice standards for locally made agro-products established by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The municipal Department of Internal Affairs has also proposed the establishment of a food safety management board to deal with food safety violations.
Although Ho Chi Minh City has already has a unit tasked with this role, Le Van Lam, deputy director of the department, said that a specialist agency with sufficient authority was needed to deal with the existing limitations in ensuring food safety across the city.
