In a policy turnaround, the Government has said it is determined to assist food and beverage importers and producers by reducing inspection times, costs and criteria, opting for businesses to make self declarations instead of being constantly watchdogged by officials.Decree No 15, effective since February 2, 2018, dictates several changes, the most notable of which is giving firms the right to self-declare food-product origins and quality, replacing the long-standing method of keeping records at public management agencies. Decree No 15, effective since February 2, 2018, dictates several changes, the most notable of which is giving firms the right to self-declare food-product origins and quality, replacing the long-standing method of keeping records at public management agencies (Source: news.chinhphu.vn) As such, only a handful of food products will now require special inspection by the Ministry of Health before entering the general market.Nguyen Thanh Long, Deputy Minister of Health, said on the Vietnam Customs’ online portal, that once the new regulations were in place, about 95 percent of food imports would not be subject to specialised inspection.However, regular inspections would still apply to all imports, unless otherwise specified.Long added that regular inspection time would also be shortened from seven to three working days, while specialised inspection time would be shortened from 10 to seven working days.He said the new decree aimed to dramatically reduce registration procedures and transfer time between pre-check and post-inspection to create favourable conditions for producing and importing food businesses.By his estimate, Vietnamese firms throughout the country would save about… [Read full story]
Decree No 15, effective since February 2, 2018, dictates several changes, the most notable of which is giving firms the right to self-declare food-product origins and quality, replacing the long-standing method of keeping records at public management agencies. — Photo VGP In a policy turnaround, the Government has said it is determined to assist food and beverage importers and producers by reducing inspection times, costs and criteria, opting for businesses to make self declarations instead of being constantly watchdogged by officials. Decree No 15, effective since February 2, 2018, dictates several changes, the most notable of which is giving firms…... [read more]
The food safety watchdog said Japan is committed to cooperating with Vietnam on this issue to see if there are any cases of radiation-contaminated food confirmed in the country. Vietnam has some food products imported from Japan such as cattle meat and poultry, dairy products, fruit and vegetables. The Department for Food Safety and Hygiene is making a list of food imports from Japan. Vietnam currently has four establishments able to check and detect food tainted with radiation: the Department for Radiation and Nuclear Safety under the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Dalat Nuclear Research Institute, the Institute for…... [read more]
Russia will impose "quite substantial" bans on the U.S. and EU food imports and has already decided to suspend U.S. poultry imports as part of President Vladimir Putin's order to prepare a list of food import bans, its veterinary service said. Putin signed a decree on Wednesday banning or limiting imports of agricultural products from countries which have imposed sanctions on Russia because of its support of rebels in Ukraine. Putin ordered his government to come up with a list of goods to be banned for imports into Russia and to last one year, the Kremlin said. Russia's Veterinary and…... [read more]
Sun Myung Moon, a self-declared messiah and founder of the Unification Church, died aged 92 on Monday leaving millions of followers and a South Korean-based global empire of religious and business interests. CLARIFYING DATE OF DEATH Evangelist reverend Moon Sun-myung proclaims marriage at a mass wedding ceremony of the Unification Church at Sun Moon University in Asan, south of Seoul in this October 10, 2010 file photo. Sun Myung Moon, founder and head of the Unification Church with millions of followers around the world, died at a retreat near the South Korean capital Seoul on September 3, 2012, church officials…... [read more]
Illustrative image (Photo:Reuters)Indonesia will expand its imports of certain food items to stabilise domestic price and control inflation, Minister of Trade Thomas Lembong told the Jakarta Post.Foodstuff imports will not have huge impacts on the national trade balance but are closely bound to values of commodities and services, exerting significant influence on the inflation rate.The country will be hit by spiralling inflation if it stops buying food from foreign countries, Thomas said, adding that food imports need to be maintained although it will slow down the country’s efforts to be self-sufficient in food production.Currently, Indonesia – the largest economy in…... [read more]
