Singapore is currently reviewing and discussing the implementation of a more comprehensive food safety legislation which includes specific regulations for food donations, following several large-scale poisoning incidents.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked the Ministry of Health, and other relevant agencies to promptly handle the food poisoning case in northern Vinh Phuc province.

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has restricted the supply and sale of mussels from Port Dickson, Malaysia after being notified by the Malaysia Department of Fisheries (DOF) about the risk of biotoxin contamination.

Currently, the incidents of food poisoning, chemical poisoning, and drug abuse are on the rise. Vietnam urgently needs a long-term strategy to stockpile rare medicines for treatment.

Hospitals across Vietnam conducted 19,435 surgeries during the seven-day Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday, up 11.4% from the same period last year, reported the Health Ministry’s Department of Medical Service Administration.

A helicopter from the Vietnam Helicopter Corporation on October 2 took eight crewmen aboard China’s Wu Zhou 8 ship from Con Dao island district to Vung Tau hospital in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau for further treatment, as suggested by the Chinese Embassy.

Nine critical ill sailors in a suspected food poisoning case on a Chinese vessel have been saved after being taken to the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, said a local health official.

The Vietnam Food Administration said there were 48 instances of food poisoning this year by the end of May, in which 22 people died.

The Ministry of Health said on December 20 that six inter-sectoral teams will be set up to inspect food safety in 12 provinces and cities in the lead-up to the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) festival and spring festivals afterwards.

To tackle rampant food safety issues in Vietnam, a national information database with real-time updates will be set up, according to Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam.

Food safety is still a major concern at public canteens in Hanoi, especially at factory cafeterias in industrial zones, according to officials.

The prevention of food poisoning and food-borne diseases have been improved drastically and showed positive results based on the decrease on food poisoning cases in the first six months of this year, a conference heard on July 20.

Ho Chi Minh City’s Food Safety Management Board (FSMB) will step up inspections to ensure food safety, said head of FSMB Pham Khanh Phong Lan.

The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) has helped improve the quality of meals for workers as it makes the issue part of the collective bargaining between employers and employees.

Inspections of moon cakes, jams, candies and other foods for the Mid-Autumn Festival will be enhanced nationwide at the request of the Ministry of Health’s Food Safety and Hygiene Department.

The implementation of regulations related to food advertisement has improved, but managing advertising on social networks like Facebook and YouTube has faced a number of difficulties.

More inspections of street-food are needed to control food safety and hygiene and prevent food poisoning.

Practical and specific measures are needed instead of general and vague directions from authorities to ensure clean production and food safety.

At least seven people died following a suspected case of food poisoning in the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau on February 13, the provincial People’s Committee reported.

As the Tet (Lunar New Year) festival is just weeks away, food safety acquires added urgency as it is a time when consumption of food reaches its annual peak.