As COVID-19 is brought under control in Da Nang, all business activities and tourism are allowed to fully resume. Therefore, food safety is a top priority given by production and business establishments across the city with the goal of bringing clean and safe meals to locals and visitors.

Shoppers are seen buying dried food at the Han Market, Hai Chau District. Photo: K. HOA

The Hai Chau District People's Committee has just coordinated with the city’s Food Safety Management Board to organise training courses on quick tests in foods, as well as widely publicise administrative penalties for failure to comply with the city's food safety and hygiene rules, among cadres, civil servants and public employees involving management of food safety in the district.

According to Mrs. Pham Thi Thuy Phuong, Deputy Head in charge of the Hai Chau District Medical Office, functional bodies in the district have often paid inspection visits to food service providers. As a result, many of them have been found to be violating the city’s food safety and hygiene regulations. In particular, there have been no tables, cabinets, shelves and utensils tools that meet the city’s regulations for displaying and selling food; food is not covered to prevent from dirt, insects and harmful animals; and food additives or food processing aids which have passed their shelf life or are outside the list of those permitted for use have been used.

“These violations, depending on the severity, will be fined from VND500,000 to VND3 million each. Therefore, aside from inspection and supervision, functional units and localities should focus on guiding food service providers to grasp and comply with food safety regulations" said Mrs. Phuong.

In order to improve the effectiveness of the publicity, especially to ensure the reception and service of a large number of tourists in the coming time, the Hai Chau District Healthcare Department has coordinated with relevant units to organise training courses on ensuring food safety and hygiene, and maintaining friendly attitude and behaviour towards customers, for food service providers in the district.

Mr. Nguyen Tan Hai, Head of the municipal Food Safety Management Board, said that the reopening and full operating capacity of accommodation establishments have been a happy sign for the city’s tourism recovery, but also put a lot of pressure on accommodation providers for guaranteeing food safety for guests, especially guests in groups.

Therefore, Mr. Hai stressed the need for accommodation establishments and tourist attractions in the city to strictly comply with the city’s food safety regulations in addition enhancing polite and friendly attitude and behaviour of staff towards customers.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG - Translating by M.DUNG