Food safety digitalization in Vietnam

Efforts to digitize food safety and traceability in Vietnam have progressed through both corporate initiatives and government-led programs.

Saigon Co. op, working with the National Barcode Center, launched a traceability system for high-risk fresh foods such as vegetables, fruits, and seafood. A pilot phase is testing the system’s ability to track goods from suppliers through distribution centers to supermarkets using QR codes. This system aims to replace fragmented information with a synchronized database covering cultivation, processing, and warehousing.

Concurrently, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade has implemented the ‘Green Tick Responsibility’ initiative. This program has seen thousands of products from hundreds of suppliers register for certification. The initiative establishes a supply-demand network involving major retail corporations and over 10,000 points of sale nationwide. It utilizes technology to encourage self-monitoring among producers and distributors to mitigate risks from bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli during the supply chain process.