Dong Thap: Food Safety Identified as a Key, Ongoing Task

(DTO) On January 27, the Inter-sectoral Steering Committee for Food Safety of Dong Thap Province held a conference to review food safety activities in 2025 and roll out key tasks for 2026.

In 2025, food safety work across the province continued to receive close guidance from the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People’s Committee, along with coordinated efforts from departments, sectors, and local authorities.

Specifically, the provincial Inter-sectoral Steering Committee issued numerous directives and plans to implement food safety assurance activities, while investing in facilities and equipment for food safety management, thereby improving operational effectiveness and governance capacity.

Notably, inspection, supervision, and post-inspection of food safety were further strengthened. As a result, no large-scale food poisoning incidents involving more than 50 people were recorded, and no fatalities occurred.

The Steering Committee also intensified communication and education efforts through diverse approaches, significantly raising awareness among the public, businesses, and organizations about the importance of food safety and gradually promoting positive behavioral changes.

At the conference, representatives of departments and agencies discussed and evaluated achieved results, while also analyzing difficulties and challenges arising in practice. Based on this, solutions were proposed to further improve the effectiveness of food safety management in the coming period.

In 2026, the provincial Inter-sectoral Steering Committee will continue to strengthen state management responsibilities for food safety under the new context; intensify dissemination of current food safety regulations; advise and encourage people not to purchase or use unsafe or substandard food products; and combine these efforts with inspections, including surprise inspections when signs of violations related to food quality and safety are detected. Violations and handling results will be publicly disclosed through mass media.

The Steering Committee has also rolled out food safety assurance measures before, during, and after the the Lunar New Year   and the 2026 Spring Festival season, with a focus on heightened control to promptly prevent the production and trading of counterfeit or low-quality food products, ensuring that food available on the market is safe and protecting public health.

By H. T - P. M
Translated by X.QUANG