VIỆN KIỂM NGHIỆM AN TOÀN VỆ SINH THỰC PHẨM QUỐC GIA

On July 8, 2024, the Vietnam Ministry of Health issued Decision No. 1936/QD-BYT to establish the Vietnam Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, under the National Institute for Food Control. After a year of establishment, VFSA has gradually started significant operations and launched the official website at https://vfsa.org.vn/.
In the first year of operation, the Vietnam Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (VFSA) has stabilized its organizational structure and personnel, while implementing several key professional activities, laying a solid foundation for sustainable development and international integration. On November 4, 2024, a ceremony was held at the National Institute for Food Control (NIFC) to announce the establishment decision and outline the position, functions, duties, authority, and personnel of VFSA. This marked the official commencement of the center’s operations. During its early steps in fulfilling the risk assessment mission in Vietnam, VFSA has received full support from NIFC, which has provided the necessary facilities, office space, and human resources to carry out the assigned tasks.

Ceremony Announcing the Establishment of the VFSA

VFSA actively participates in workshops, seminars, and specialized meetings to share expertise and contribute technical insights. Notably, it is involved in the AHC4 group under the ASEAN Risk Assessment Centre for Food Safety (ARAC) and contributes to the review and refinement of the network’s standard operating procedures. Key workshops include the Virtual Workshop on Review of ARAC SOP 1 - SOP 4; the workshop on microbiological risk assessment organized by the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI SEA Region) in Malaysia; the workshop co-organized by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Thailand; the workshop on food safety crisis response organized by the BTSF Academy; and the Workshop on Total Diet Study co-organized by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of Korea (MFDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

VFSA's First Year of Operation

In parallel with VFSA's professional activities, the staff continuously enhances their expertise through advanced training courses, including two courses directly delivered by international expert Greg Paoli, which focus on microbiological and chemical risk assessment. Additionally, the VFSA’s personnel participated in a training program on food safety risk assessment and communication in Germany, organized by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR).

VFSA officials participating in training courses

Regarding research activities, VFSA has completed a risk assessment for the compounds 3-MCPD and glycidyl esters (GE) in powdered nutritional formula products. Notably, VFSA has collaborated with the Safe Food for Growth Project (SAFEGRO) to conduct two risk assessments, namely the Risk assessment of Histamine poisoning from the consumption of Scombridae fish in Nghe An and the Risk assessment of Salmonella in chicken “from farm to table” in Hanoi.

VFSA officials are conducting research, collecting data, and sampling in the field

After the first year of operation, the official VFSA website, accessible at https://vfsa.org.vn/, has been officially launched, marking a significant milestone for VFSA as it integrates into the national food safety network. The website serves as a platform for sharing in-depth knowledge and updating scientific information on food safety for all Vietnamese citizens. Additionally, it acts as a repository and resource hub, providing scientific documents in the field of food safety, not only for domestic audiences but also for international counterparts.

Official interface of https://vfsa.org.vn