Speaking at a seminar entitled “Communication Work: 2010 Action Month for Food Quality, Hygiene and Safety” held in Hanoi on April 14, FAO Chief Representative in Vietnam Andrew W. Speedy said that the project, funded by the One Plan Fund, has drawn the participation of many countries and will help Vietnam build a qualified staff of food inspectors trained in the standards and methods of food inspection, serving as a core for the implementation of national-level inspection plans.

According to the Department of Food Hygiene and Safety (DFHS), at present, Vietnam does not yet have professional inspectors for food hygiene and safety and the work is conducted by 230 health officers.

The results of examinations by authorised agencies on vegetable hygiene and safety show that the fruits and vegetables exceeding the permitted limits for pesticide residue account for 5-15.5 percent and 11.6-13 percent respectively.

Food hygiene and safety efforts haven’t yet reached the expected results, partly because of limited investment. In the 2004-2008 period, the average investment in this field was only VND780 per head per year, much lower than that of Thailand or the US.