Hanoi will take more drastic measures to improve the safety of fruits and vegetables, one official has said.

Hanoi authorities stamp safe vegetables

According to Deputy Director of Hanoi Plant Protection Department, Nguyen Hong Anh, local authorities have yet to identify certain substances used to ripen bananas and papaws recently, posing health concerns.

“It’s true that in several loads of bananas and papaws have been forced to ripen using chemicals. More attention will be paid to the issue in order to work out the best solution, as these are popular fruits and widely used by people in the community,” Anh noted.

He said that the agency has detected a few cases in which traders used chemicals to ripen fruits, but has yet to identify the substances used.

Hanoi has a pilot trademarking project to identify safe bananas and papaws in two areas where these fruits are traditionally ripened after being placed in big jars for a few days, with the help of incense.

Once these products are launched they will be marked with a brand and a logo, Anh shared.

In addition, Hanoi is building trademark for safe tea known as Huy Quy tea, from the Bac Son area.

Concerning vegetables, Anh said that agricultural production in the capital city currently meets around 60% of the total demand, and only 30% of vegetables could be considered safe.

There are 58 licensed 'safe vegetable stores' citywide, which sell 50-120 kilos of vegetables each per day.

Moreover, safe vegetables are being sold at 35 supermarkets in the city, providing from 80-200 kilos each per day.

In order to help people easily find and identify 'safe vegetables', Anh said that the municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has requested the Hanoi Plant Protection Department to stamp “Hanoi safe vegetables” on products sold in the market since September, and include labeling.

“Stamping has already been implemented at 29 facilities. After inspections, we’ve suspended the operations of two stores for not strictly complying with regulation,” he said.

This means that a lot of 'safe vegetables' are being sold in the market without being properly stamped. Local authorities will step up the enforcement in the time to come, he added.