The management of the quality and safety of agricultural products is the responsibility of local authorities and business operators during the entire process from production to consumption, said Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan.

Enterprises and cooperatives of agricultural production should be responsible for the quality and safety of agricultural products, Hoan said at a conference held in HCM City on Tuesday.

Enterprises and cooperatives should strengthen long-term cooperation with farmers to build value chains for ‘safe’ agricultural products, he said.

Given that small-scale production and traditional or informal markets still dominate agricultural value chains, the control of the quality and safety from the production base is a focus point, he said.

The ministry will revise regulations on quality and safety standards of agricultural products to ensure the quality and safety of agricultural products during the entire process from production to consumption.

State management agencies will strengthen the supervision and management of agricultural product quality and safety as well as certifications and qualifications of agricultural products on a regular basis, he said.

Nguyen Nhu Tiep, head of the National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department under the ministry, attributed small-scale production, weak supervision and loopholes in regulations to a high level of food safety violations.

It is important to develop the agricultural value chain and strengthen linkages between producers and consumers, Tiep said.

Vu Kim Hanh, chairwoman of the Business Association of High-Quality Vietnamese Products, said excessive amounts of pesticides in many types of agricultural products are among the major concerns of consumers.

Many businesses failed to comply with standard certifications, sparking concerns over quality and origin of agricultural products, Hanh said.

Nguyen Thi Hong Minh, Chairwoman of the Association of Food Transparency, said the quality and safety management of agricultural products should be the responsibility of all stakeholders and the public. — VNS