Risk assessment for strengthening food safety governance

On the morning of December 18, the National Institute for Food Control (NIFC), in collaboration with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), organized an International Conference on the theme “Chemical and Microbiological Risk Assessment for Food Safety.”

In her opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Thi Hong Hao, Director of NIFC, emphasized: Proactively preventing and comprehensively controlling potential hazards, from production to consumption, is an urgent and strategic requirement.

To meet this requirement, developing and implementing chemical and microbiological risk assessment studies, based on modern, accurate, and effective scientific evidence, is considered one of the most feasible and effective tools. The results of these studies will provide valuable scientific information on hazards, thereby providing powerful support and a solid foundation for risk-based food safety management.

The conference was organized with the participation of managers, scientists, and representatives from both domestic and international food safety sectors.

"This is an opportunity for delegates to meet and share experiences to strengthen research, training, cooperation, and scientific exchange activities related to food safety and risk assessment," said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hao.

According to Dr. Nguyen Viet Hung, ILRI Regional Representative for Asia, the actual burden of unsafe food is far more severe than previously projected. It is estimated that foodborne diseases reduce labor productivity by up to $115 billion, primarily in low- and middle-income countries.

Notably, foodborne diseases impose a health burden comparable to that of the three major infectious diseases - HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria - with 95% of this burden concentrated in developing nations. However, global investment resources, particularly for developing countries, remain disproportionate to the scale and severity of the issue.

"To achieve the goal of ensuring all Vietnamese agricultural, forestry, and fishery products have clear traceability by 2026, risk-based management is the key approach. We are committed to working closely with Vietnamese agencies to realize these objectives gradually," Dr. Nguyen Viet Hung emphasized.

Through the participation of experts and organizations from Canada, Germany, Russia, and other countries, and through initiatives such as AI applications in assessment, local project implementation, and the "One Health" approach, ILRI aims to enhance the effectiveness of food safety management in Viet Nam.

At the conference, Mr. Chu Quoc Thinh, Acting Director General of the Vietnam Food Administration (Ministry of Health), stated that the Administration is urgently drafting the amended Law on Food Safety to be submitted to the National Assembly during the first session of the 16th legislature. To bridge legal gaps, the Government will soon issue decrees and resolutions to replace Decree No. 15, aiming for a robust shift in mindset from simple safety management to risk-based quality management.

“The national database system on food safety is being expedited for completion, integrating 98 administrative procedures along with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) management and food advertising to ensure unified operation from central to local levels. Simultaneously, the review and update of National Technical Regulations (QCVN) are being aggressively implemented, with 37 regulations expected to be revised to create a solid scientific foundation for market surveillance,” he added.

Under the new approach, management will be implemented throughout the "from farm to table" value chain, with a focus on controlling agricultural inputs such as fertilizers and pesticide residues, while gradually applying advanced technologies in risk assessment.

“By consolidating the local management apparatus and enhancing the core role of NIFC, we are committed to building a transparent post-inspection mechanism based on scientific evidence, thereby protecting public health and promoting the country's sustainable development,” Acting Director General Thinh affirmed.

This conference serves as an essential preparatory step for the International Food Control Conference 2026 (FCC 2026), scheduled to take place in October 2026 in Hanoi. Through professional exchanges and stakeholder networking, the workshop helps shape the content, themes, and cooperative directions for this upcoming international event. It also provides an opportunity for Viet Nam to gradually assert its proactive role in the global food testing and control sector.