VN, Australia share food safety concerns

HA NOI (VNS) — Viet Nam's Government considers food safety a key task for protecting 90 million Vietnamese and hundreds of millions of people who consume Vietnamese food around the world, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Vu Duc Tam said yesterday.

Tam was speaking at a food safety forum with Vietnamese officials and enterprises and their Australian counterparts.

However, food safety remains a concern across the country due to the increasing number of food poisoning cases and the use of banned chemicals.

"Improved food safety control, higher product quality and added value are key factors that help increase the competitiveness of Viet Nam's agricultural produce during international integration," Tam added.

He said the forum offered a good chance to understand more about food safety in the two countries and to build a stronger partnership in agriculture and food.

Australian Ambassador Hugh Borrowman said Australia's diverse food and agriculture sector was underpinned by safety standards, systems and processes that ensured its food products and beverages were trusted by people all over the world.

The country also provided other countries with technical assistance to enhance their own domestic production, he said.

"By transferring some of this expertise to Viet Nam, Australia can support the Vietnamese Government as it makes improvements to food safety standards, modernises food processing industries, and delivers health and economic benefits to the country," he said.

Chief scientist and deputy CEO of Food Standards Australia and New Zealand, Marion Healy, said that Australia had a contemporary, integrated and transparent food regulatory system.

The system allowed consumers to make informed choices about food, supported public health objectives and underpinned a sustainable food industry.

"The system helps protect the health and safety of consumers by reducing risks related to food," she said. — VNS