The Government on September 4 issued Decree 115/2018/ND-CP revising a number of articles of Decree 178 of 2013, raising fines for food safety violations up to VND 200 million or seven times higher than the value of infringing goods.
Under the new regulation, organizations or individuals found using out-of-date materials or products, those of unclear origin or those from animals and plants not yet quarantined for producing foods will be given fines double the value of infringing goods.
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| Pork slaughter and processing chain of Vinh Anh Food Technology Joint-Stock Company in Ha Binh Phuong industrial complex, Hanoi __Photo: Vu Sinh/VNA |
A fine of between VND 20 million and 40 million will be levied on those using products from animals and plants that fail to meet the veterinary hygiene or plant quarantine requirements
A fine of between VND 40 million and 50 million will be imposed for acts of selling dead or culled diseased animals for food in case the goods are worth under VND 10 million.
A fine of between VND 80 million and 100 million will be imposed for using banned chemicals or dead or culled diseased animals for producing foods in case the goods are valued at VND 10 million or more but not yet reach the threshold for penal liability examination.
All violators will be subject to fines instead of warnings as at present. Additional penalties such as revocation of certificates of food safety and registration of products, confiscation of materials or suspension of business operation are also on the table.
Violating businesses are required to destroy their infringing food products and pay all expenses for dealing with food poisoning cases they cause.
The new regulation will take effect on October 20.- (VLLF)
