Lao Cai is the fourth locale in Vietnam, following Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, to launch a food traceability system.
Vuong Tien Sy, head of Lao Cai’s agency responsible for the quality of agricultural produce, said on September 12 that each product in this programme will be given a code that smartphones can scan to display various information.
He said that the data contained in the codes include the product makers, certificates of safety, the production process and distribution channels, adding that consumers can even send feedback to producers via the system.
For now the system is available on over 100 products belonging to 16 enterprises and cooperatives in the province, such as Sapa cold-water fish and black mushroom, Bao Yen dried buffalo meat, Bac Ha pork, Seng Cu rice and Muong Khuong chili sauce.
The food traceability system is expected to make food information more transparent, strengthen quality control and prevent counterfeit products, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of Lao Cai’s local food products.
In the coming months, the Lao Cai authorities plan to open training courses in order to help consumers use their smartphone to trace the origin of products and change their shopping habits.
