Ministry to scrutinise VietGap certifications after fake labels found on vegetables

Vegetables on a supermarket shelf. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is investigating reports of vegetables being sold with fake VietGap labels. — VNA/VNS Photo

Hậu called for solutions that enhance the management of agricultural products along with strict punishments to prevent similar deeds.

Although retailers want to buy directly from farms and not go through intermediaries to control the product quality, it is difficult due to the small and scattered production scale, together with problems related to invoices, Đức said.

It was necessary to raise policies establishing farm-to-table supply chains, Đức said. The focus should be placed on increasing the traceability of origin.

In an urgent meeting on Thursday, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Lê Minh Hoan said that standardising agricultural product quality in the domestic market was mandatory.

The quality standardisation should start first from roadside markets, traditional markets, then supermarkets and distributors, Hoan said.

“We have a long way to go.”

Hoà Bình Province had the famous Cao Phong orange, but when Vinh oranges had better prices, sellers introduced their Hoà Bình orange as Vinh, Hoan said, adding that this was not only a problem of productivity but also of quality and food safety control.

If there were separate spaces for certified and uncertified products on supermarkets’ shelves, he added that consumers would have their choice.

Hoan called for all retail systems, enterprises, associations, and communication agencies to create an ecosystem for agricultural products.

“We do it transparently and kindly, not only for exports but also for the domestic market of more than 100 million people,” he stressed.

He also asked relevant departments to review all standards, regulations and sanctions for necessary amendments.