The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) enhanced inspections of food safety in agricultural production and trade in 2022 with the aim of protecting consumer health and improving the quality, value, and competitiveness of agricultural products in domestic and international markets.

It carried out 27,574 inspections during the year and punished 2,244 agricultural production and trading establishments for violations of food safety regulations.

They were fined VND20.14 billion ($846,000) in total.

The agricultural sector posted growth of 3.36 per cent in 2022, with agriculture, forestry and fishery exports reaching over $53.22 billion, according to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam.

Achievements are partly attributed to efforts to ensure food safety for exports, he told a meeting in Hanoi on January 6 to review food quality and safety tasks.

The volume of exports being returned due to misuse of antibiotics and chemicals fell significantly in 2022 compared to previous years, with localities paying greater attention to traceability, the issuance of planting area codes, and food safety, he said.