FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Government Reviewing Amendments to Judicial Expertise and Food Safety Laws

HANOI, May 20, 2025 (09:00 GMT) – Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính chaired a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Government on May 19th to address critical legislative matters. The primary focus was preparation for the May 2025 specialized Government session dedicated to law drafting. Key agenda items included proposed amendments to the Law on Judicial Expertise and the Law on Food Safety. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Ministers, and heads of government ministries and agencies.

According to the Government Portal, discussions centered on the necessity of amending the aforementioned laws, encompassing political, legal, and practical underpinnings. Deliberations covered the objectives, drafting principles, scope of application, and policy stipulations within the proposed legislative amendments, along with timelines for submission to the National Assembly.

Prime Minister Chính emphasized the imperative for comprehensive documentation accompanying the proposed legislation. He directed that submitted materials meticulously articulate omitted content, revisions, refinements, additions, streamlined administrative procedures, delegated authorities, and unresolved dissenting opinions. Furthermore, he reiterated the requirement for clearly defined roles, responsibilities, timelines, authority, and deliverables – a principle articulated as “six rõ” (six clearnesses).

Focus on Food Safety Governance

Addressing the proposed amendments to the Law on Food Safety, Prime Minister Chính underscored the profound implications of food safety for public health and well-being. He highlighted public concern regarding smuggling, trade fraud, the production and distribution of counterfeit and substandard goods, goods of unknown origin, and misleading advertising, particularly relating to counterfeit pharmaceuticals, infant formula, and contaminated food products.

The Prime Minister expressed acute concern regarding instances of large-scale counterfeiting operations escaping detection by regulatory bodies. He posited that such oversights indicated either a lack of proactive enforcement or potential corruption, both of which require rigorous investigation and corrective action.

Prime Minister Chính mandated the design and implementation of policies to address current, pressing challenges within the food safety landscape. This includes the designation of a single, accountable regulatory body; clearly delineated authorities; and enhanced inter-agency coordination among the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and other relevant ministries in food safety management. The objective is to eliminate overlap, prevent omissions, and close loopholes within the state’s regulatory framework. The Prime Minister further directed the expedited drafting of the legislative project for presentation to the National Assembly at the earliest opportunity.

Furthermore, Prime Minister Chính instructed authorities to expedite the submission of amendments to Decree No. 15/2018/NĐ-CP, dated February 2, 2018, which provides detailed guidelines for the implementation of specific articles within the existing Law on Food Safety.

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Source: TAPCHICONGTHUONG
This article has been adapted from its original source.