On 22 March 2024, the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM), affiliated with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, conducted a seminar in Hanoi. The event concentrated on evaluating the five-year journey of implementing Decree 15/2018/ND-CP, which pertains to food safety, gathering insights from a diverse group of experts and stakeholders. The discussions aimed at assessing the decree’s impact, sharing experiences, and suggesting paths forward for Vietnam’s food safety regulations.

EuroCham was represented by Tran Thi Huong Lien, a member of the EuroCham Nutritional Foods Group (NFG), who delivered insightful remarks on the progress and impact of Decree No. 15 since its inception in February 2018. The decree, noted for streamlining administrative procedures in food registration and inspection, was lauded for aligning Vietnam’s food safety practices with international standards and supporting socio-economic development, notably during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While praising the government and the Ministry of Health for significant reforms, Ms. Lien also pointed out areas for improvement. She emphasized the need for enhanced food quality and manufacturing standards, advocating for stricter requirements for products aimed at sensitive groups such as the elderly, patients, pregnant women, and young children. Specifically, EuroCham recommends that such products should be produced in facilities that adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) or equivalent standards.