Since the first quarter of 2026, the agricultural sector has intensified controls across the entire supply chain, from inputs to outputs, aiming to standardize quality, reinforce market confidence, and expand opportunities for local products.
According to Trần Kim Dương, Head of the Sub-Department of Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Management, authorities inspected 610 establishments in the first quarter, including production facilities and fishing vessels over 15 meters in length. In March alone, 186 out of 188 inspected entities met safety standards, reflecting a compliance rate of nearly 99%.
Ongoing monitoring includes testing for pesticide residues, banned antibiotics, and harmful substances. During the Tet holiday, 18 food samples were rapidly tested at markets and supermarkets, with no violations detected.
With a “management from the source” approach, the sector has tightened oversight of inputs such as seeds and pesticides, while ensuring traceability throughout production, processing, and distribution. Interdisciplinary inspections have been enforced rigorously, with no exemptions. During the Tet peak, authorities penalized nine violations among 54 inspected establishments, imposing total fines of VND78 million (approximately USD 3,100).
Dương emphasized that strict input control and standardized processes are essential for ensuring product safety and accessing major markets.
From a business perspective, Thái Như Hiệp, Chairman and General Director of Vĩnh Hiệp Co., Ltd., noted that stricter regulations require systematic investment from raw materials to processing. While costs may rise initially, such investments help stabilize quality and facilitate partnerships and export expansion.
As the province prepares to host the 2026 National Tourism Year, authorities are leveraging the opportunity to promote distinctive agricultural and OCOP products to domestic and international visitors. More than 250 OCOP products are now distributed through 45 supermarkets and safe agricultural stores, as well as digital platforms such as Facebook, Zalo, and TikTok.
Nguyễn Tấn Công, Chairman of Nam Yang Agricultural and Service Cooperative, said consumers increasingly prioritize traceable products. Maintaining high safety standards and clear product narratives could give Gia Lai’s agricultural goods a competitive edge in modern retail systems.
Despite challenges such as fragmented production and rapid e-commerce growth, authorities are pushing to expand food safety management into digital platforms and accelerate traceability technologies.
According to Cao Thanh Thương, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, ensuring food safety remains a central task, particularly during peak tourism and festival seasons. Authorities will continue inspections, strengthen post-inspection enforcement, and focus on high-risk areas such as tourist sites and holiday events.
Efforts also include issuing food safety certifications, guiding compliance commitments, and tightening monitoring of chemical residues and harmful substances. At the same time, the sector supports trade promotion, product marketing, and value chain development to expand market access.
Thương expressed confidence that increasingly stringent quality controls will enable local agricultural products not only to meet domestic demand but also to gradually penetrate international markets, strengthening the province’s agricultural brand.