Speaking at a meeting of the Central Interministerial Steering Committee on Food Safety on July 14, Deputy Prime Minister Trà emphasized that food safety violations in schools require particular attention because of the risks they pose to children. She called for stronger enforcement measures to prevent additional incidents.

Vietnam Food Safety Enforcement Actions in 2026

Deputy Minister of Health Đỗ Xuân Tuyên said the Ministry of Health inspected 118,009 food establishments during the first six months of 2026 and identified violations at 5,695 facilities, representing 4.8 percent of those inspected. Authorities sanctioned 3,772 businesses and imposed fines totaling approximately VNĐ20 billion ($762,000 USD).

Separately, agricultural regulators inspected nearly 3,900 businesses involved in agricultural inputs and agroforestry and fishery products. Enforcement actions resulted in fines exceeding VNĐ8.8 billion ($335,000 USD) against 360 businesses.

According to the reports, market surveillance authorities also worked with e-commerce platforms to remove more than 14,000 online storefronts and nearly 3,800 product listings associated with counterfeit dietary supplements, fraudulent functional foods, and substandard milk products.

National Food Safety Oversight Challenges, Progress

Despite these enforcement efforts, Deputy Minister of Health Tuyên said food safety oversight continues to face significant challenges. He cited weaknesses in traceability throughout food supply chains and difficulties monitoring products sold through e-commerce platforms, where sellers and product origins are often difficult to verify.

Positively, Deputy Prime Minister Trà said Vietnam had made progress toward national food safety goals established since 2021, pointing to improvements in public awareness campaigns and increased enforcement activities. She also highlighted actions by the Ministry of Public Security against companies violating food safety laws, as well as ongoing efforts by other ministries to strengthen oversight of food advertising, e-commerce, and food safety regulations.

However, she said persistent challenges remain, including oversight of food sales and advertising on online platforms and social media, as well as staffing and funding shortages that limit food safety management at the local level.

Action Plan to Strengthen Food Safety in Vietnam

Deputy Prime Minister Trà said food safety should be viewed as a driver of economic development and national competitiveness rather than solely a public health issue. She called for clear accountability across all levels of government, with local authorities responsible for implementing and enforcing food safety requirements.

Among the actions announced, the Ministry of Health was directed to complete revisions to Vietnam's Food Safety Law and develop training programs for provincial and local officials. The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment were also instructed to develop a shared national food safety database to improve farm-to-table traceability.

Additionally, the Ministry of Public Security was directed to intensify enforcement against counterfeit, imitation, and substandard food products, while the Ministry of Health was instructed to prioritize inspections of schools, street food vendors, and small foodservice establishments in rural areas.