# Vietnam expands traceability and food safety enforcement > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/southeast-asian-authorities-intensify-raids-on-counterfeit-food-products > Updated: 2026-08-01T12:19:00.000Z. Sources: 29. Developments: 20. May 2026 saw coordinated raids in Thailand and Vietnam that seized more than 240,000 counterfeit seasonings and MSG, highlighting cross‑border food‑fraud networks. In Ho Chi Minh City, a gang was prosecuted for chemically treating pork to pass it off as beef, while a livestream of fake pork sold as beef in Quy Nhơn sparked a rapid local investigation. A May 29 forum in Ho Chi Minh City exposed gaps in meat traceability, prompting proposals to shift from paperwork‑heavy pre‑checks to risk‑based, post‑market verification. The Ministry of Industry and Trade responded with Circular No 31, mandating electronic traceability for high‑risk foods via the VeriGoods platform from 1 July, requiring QR‑code verification and imposing penalties for non‑compliance. June brought multiple VeriGoods roll‑outs, confirming over one million product codes and extending the system to pork, poultry and eggs. Ho Chi Minh City added a blockchain‑linked roadmap to support the growing global Halal market. Provincial authorities cracked down on false food‑safety rumors and on illegal pork infected with African swine fever, while a national traceability programme for agro‑forestry and fishery products entered testing. On 30 June the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, with Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung, launched a nationwide agricultural traceability platform covering more than 18,500 items from 170 enterprises, capable of handling millions of QR‑code scans daily and aimed at meeting EU, US and Chinese market requirements. July’s enforcement data showed thousands of food‑safety violations, criminal cases and record customs seizures, and the anti‑smuggling task force reported a 36 % rise in violations. In mid‑July, MM Mega Market announced blockchain‑enabled traceability for school canteens, and in August a draft Food Safety Law proposed fines up to 2 billion VND to strengthen deterrence. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-01: Vietnam drafts food safety law raising fines to 2 billion VND Vietnam's draft Food Safety Law would raise maximum fines to 2 billion VND for firms and 1 billion VND for individuals, adding stricter bans on unsafe ingredients and misleading ads. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-drafts-food-safety-law-raising-fines-to-2-billion-vnd ### 2026-07-18: Vietnam proposes tougher penalties and new food safety law Vietnam's draft criminal code amendment would allow up to 12 years jail for producers of substandard food, while a revised Food Safety Law seeks whole‑chain risk management and digital monitoring, both slated ​ 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-proposes-tougher-penalties-and-new-food-safety-law ### 2026-07-15: Vietnam launches national agricultural traceability system Vietnam has launched a national traceability platform covering 18,500 agricultural products to meet EU deforestation rules and aim for $74 bn in exports, amid smallholder data challenges. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-launches-national-traceability-platform-to-boost-agricultural-exports ### 2026-07-14: MM Mega Market launches food safety solutions for school canteens in Ho Chi Minh City MM Mega Market held a Ho Chi Minh City seminar on school‑canteen food safety, unveiling blockchain‑based traceability, cold‑chain controls and participation in the TXTN program. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mm-mega-market-launches-food-safety-solutions-for-school-canteens-in-ho-chi-minh-city ### 2026-07-07: Vietnam cracks down on smuggling and illegal trade in first half of 2026 Vietnam’s anti‑smuggling task force processed 67,937 violations in H1 2026, up 36.66% YoY, generating 9.6 trn VND in revenue and targeting illegal trade, tax fraud, and counterfeit goods. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-cracks-down-on-smuggling-and-illegal-trade-in-first-half-of-2026 ### 2026-07-02: Vietnam agencies report heightened food safety and customs enforcement in first half of 2026 Vietnam's food‑safety and customs agencies logged thousands of violations, imposed over VND 330 billion in penalties, and saw a 27 % trade surge in H1 2026, with heightened detection of contraband and fraud. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-agencies-report-heightened-food-safety-and-customs-enforcement-in-first-half-of-2026 ### 2026-06-30: Vietnam launches national traceability system for agricultural products Vietnam’s new agricultural traceability system went live, covering 18,500 items from 170 firms and enabling digital verification for exports, aiming to boost food safety and farmer incomes. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-launches-national-traceability-system-for-agricultural-products ### 2026-06-30: Vietnam launches national agricultural traceability system to boost export value Vietnam’s new national agricultural traceability system, endorsed by Deputy PM Ho Quoc Dung, aims to boost export quality and value by digitising supply‑chain data with blockchain and QR codes. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-launches-national-agricultural-traceability-system-to-boost-export-value ### 2026-06-30: Vietnam launches national agricultural product traceability system Vietnam inaugurated a digital traceability system for agricultural products, covering 18,500 items and aiming to boost quality, export value and market access, with Deputy PM Ho Quoc Dung urging mandatory use. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-launches-national-agricultural-product-traceability-system ### 2026-06-25: Cà Mau police detain individual over false rubber shrimp claim Cà Mau police detained a man and questioned another for spreading a false claim that local dried shrimp is made from rubber, finding no evidence of such production. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/c-mau-police-detain-individual-over-false-rubber-shrimp-claim ### 2026-06-23: Vietnam launches national traceability system for agroforestry and fishery products Vietnam is finalising a national traceability system for agro‑forestry and fishery products to boost export quality, regulate supply chains and curb counterfeit goods, alongside expanding pomelo cultivation for 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-launches-national-traceability-system-for-agroforestry-and-fishery-products ### 2026-06-23: Vietnam authorities crackdown on food safety rumors and illegal pork trade Vietnam police dismiss a fake shrimp‑from‑rubber rumor in Ca Mau and charge three offenders for illegally handling African swine fever‑infected pork in Thanh Hóa. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-authorities-crackdown-on-food-safety-rumors-and-illegal-pork-trade ### 2026-06-16: Ho Chi Minh City ramps up food traceability and Halal opportunities Ho Chi Minh City launched a 2026‑30 food traceability roadmap and highlighted Halal market growth, urging businesses to adopt tech‑based labeling and certification to boost exports. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ho-chi-minh-city-ramps-up-food-traceability-and-halal-opportunities ### 2026-06-13: Vietnam's Verigoods System to Enforce Product Traceability from July 2026 Vietnam will require high‑risk goods, including agricultural products, to be traceable via the VeriGoods system starting July 1 2026, with full compliance by Jan 1 2027. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnams-verigoods-system-to-enforce-product-traceability-from-july-2026 ### 2026-06-12: Vietnam to Mandate Traceability for High‑Risk Goods via VeriGoods Platform Vietnam will require high‑risk goods to use the VeriGoods traceability system from 1 July 2026, expanding a platform already holding over one million product codes and 18,000 items, while Ho Chi Minh City plans 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-to-mandate-traceability-for-highrisk-goods-via-verigoods-platform ### 2026-06-11: Vietnam mandates traceability for high‑risk goods from July 2026 Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade will require traceability for high‑risk goods via VeriGoods from 1 July 2026; Ho Chi Minh City will apply a similar system for pork, poultry and eggs through 2026‑2030. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-mandates-traceability-for-highrisk-food-items-starting-july-2026 ### 2026-05-29: Ho Chi Minh City officials warn of meat traceability gaps as food‑safety law revision proposed HCMC officials say traceability of pork and chicken is weak in traditional markets, prompting proposed food‑safety law reforms focusing on supply‑chain oversight and risk‑based inspections. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ho-chi-minh-city-officials-warn-of-meat-traceability-gaps-as-foodsafety-law-revision-proposed ### 2026-05-18: Fake pork sold as beef at a Quy Nhơn stall triggers Vietnam food‑safety probe Live video shows pork sold as beef in Quy Nhơn; Vietnamese officials launch investigation. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/fake-pork-sold-as-beef-at-a-quy-nhn-stall-triggers-vietnam-foodsafety-probe ### 2026-05-11: Ho Chi Minh City gang prosecuted for selling fake beef made from pork Ho Chi Minh City police arrest two men for selling over 15 t of fake beef made from pork using banned sodium metabisulfite, netting >9 bn VND. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ho-chi-minh-city-gang-prosecuted-for-selling-fake-beef-made-from-pork ### 2026-05-05: Thai and Vietnamese police seize huge stocks of fake MSG and seasonings Police in Thailand and Vietnam busted large counterfeit MSG and seasoning operations, confiscating over 240,000 products and 3 tons of fake goods. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/thai-and-vietnamese-police-seize-huge-stocks-of-fake-msg-and-seasonings --- Cite as: Vietnam expands traceability and food safety enforcement. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/southeast-asian-authorities-intensify-raids-on-counterfeit-food-products