Recent media reports revealed that several businesses and individuals have been involved in manufacturing, advertising, and selling fake milk products, sparking public concern over consumer health and safety.

Food safety management and the fight against counterfeit products are responsibilities already assigned by the Government to ministries, central agencies, and provincial-level People's Committees.

To reinforce accountability and strengthen food safety enforcement, the Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Public Security to expedite investigations, conclude the case swiftly, inform the public, and prosecute those responsible in accordance with the law.

He requested that the Ministry of Industry and Trade intensify market inspections to promptly detect and strictly handle the production and sale of fake food products, particularly counterfeit milk.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism was tasked with reviewing and addressing violations related to food advertising across media platforms, online networks, and printed publications.

He also asked the Ministry of Health, in coordination with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and other relevant agencies, to review current regulations on food safety for milk products, suggest suitable solutions, and regulatory amendments if necessary.

Provincial/municipal administrations were directed to review and inspect local compliance with food safety regulations for milk products and strictly deal with violations.

Earlier, the Criminal Investigation Department under the Ministry of Public Security dismantled a large-scale counterfeit powdered milk production and distribution network operating in Hanoi and neighboring provinces.

Authorities prosecuted and detained the two masterminds behind the operation, along with six other suspects.

Preliminary investigations reveal that since August 2021, the group had manufactured 573 fake powdered milk product labels, targeting vulnerable consumers such as diabetics, kidney patients, premature infants, and pregnant women. These products falsely claimed to contain premium ingredients like bird’s nest extract, cordyceps, macadamia, and walnut powder, which were in fact completely absent.

Instead, the suspects used substitute ingredients and additives. Lab tests confirmed that some quality indicators in the milk were below 70% of declared levels, qualifying them as counterfeit under Vietnamese law.

Beyond the two main companies set up for production - Hacofood and Rance Pharma - the suspects partnered with others to form nine additional companies. These entities were used to register product declarations and directly distribute the fake milk to the market.

Vietnam intensifies crackdown on origin fraud in exports

The National Steering Committee against Smuggling, Counterfeit Goods, and Trade Fraud (National Steering Committee 389) on April 10 issued a document calling for stringent enforcement against goods origin fraud.