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The Star
15-07-2025
- The Star
Vietnam's former top health official prosecuted in dual bribery scandals
HANOI: A former high-ranking health official has been prosecuted in two major corruption cases linked to the mass production and distribution of counterfeit health supplements in Vietnam, police said on Monday (July 14). Nguyen Thanh Phong (pic), former Director of the Food Administration under the Ministry of Health, is accused of receiving tens of billions of dong in bribes to approve falsified product registrations and overlook serious violations related to functional foods. Phong is now facing charges in two separate criminal cases handled by different agencies of the Ministry of Public Security, both pointing to a deep network of collusion between regulatory officials and business executives. Case 1: Fake approvals through TSL Science Co. In the latest case, the Investigation Police Agency (CO1) filed formal charges on July 10 against Phong and 17 others for giving and receiving bribes. The case centres on TSL Science CO LTD, which allegedly issued fake laboratory results enabling companies to register counterfeit dietary supplements. Investigators say that although the Center for Application and Training in Food Safety was not legally responsible for dossier evaluations, Phong assigned it additional duties in order to facilitate the scam. In exchange, he and others reportedly accepted bribes totaling more than VND75 billion (US$2.9 million) to process over 10,000 falsified product dossiers. From 2015 to 2024, Phong is believed to have personally received more than VND60 billion ($2.3 million). Other senior officials prosecuted include Nguyen Hung Long, former Deputy Director of the Food Administration; Dinh Quang Minh, former Director of the Center for Application and Training in Food Safety; and several department heads and specialists. Two business executives - Pham Thi Loan of Canada Vietnam International Pharmaceutical JSC and Tran Quang Hai of Fosi International Food Services JSC - have also been charged with bribery. Police executed search warrants at 25 locations in connection with the case. Case 2: Bribes Tied to MediUSA and MegaPhaco In a separate investigation led by the Economic Crimes and Corruption Police (C03), Phong and four other officials are charged with colluding with Nguyen Nang Manh, the head of a counterfeit health supplement operation involving the MediUSA and MegaPhaco companies. According to the police, Mạnh paid bribes to secure 207 product registrations and four food safety certifications for nine companies under his control. These approvals allowed the companies to produce and sell hundreds of tonnes of fake dietary supplements, often marketed as imported from the US or Europe, though most ingredients were sourced from China or unverified suppliers. Authorities say many products contained less than 30 per cent of the advertised active ingredients and were distributed widely, targeting vulnerable groups such as the elderly and children. Phong allegedly admitted to receiving VNĐ250 million ($9,600) in cash for post-approval inspections and certifications. One envelope reportedly contained VNĐ50 million, handed over after a site inspection. The cases have exposed systemic abuse within Vietnam's food safety regulatory framework. At least 14 ministry officials have been prosecuted, and the investigations are ongoing. In total, police have seized around 100 tonnes of counterfeit functional foods across various warehouses and distribution points nationwide. Suspects attempted to destroy evidence and shut down factories once investigations began. Authorities are expanding the probe to uncover the full scope of wrongdoing. — Vietnam News/ANN
The Star
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Prices of fruits in Vietnam drop despite bumper harvest
Many fruits are currently sold at only VND20,000-30,000/kg at Xuan Khanh Market, Can Tho City. - HCM CITY: Prices of fruits such as lychees, durians and rambutans have dropped sharply across Vietnam due to low market demand. Nguyen Ngoc Nga, a vendor at Thi Nghe Market (HCM City), said although the lychee season was nearing its end, supplies remained abundant and prices hit their lowest levels in years. Last year, lychees were sold for VND60,000-70,000/kg, but now the price dropped to just only around VND25,000/kg. In Northern Vietnam, Tru Huu Commercial Service Cooperative in Bac Ninh Province, said that despite a bumper harvest, lychee's profits had dropped significantly. The basic-grade lychees at Luc Ngan gardens were selling for VND7,000-12,000/kg, while top-grade lychees fetched only VND15,000-30,000/kg. In HCM City, retail durian prices have fallen by 30-35 per cent year-on-year. Ri6 durians are selling for as low as VND40,000-65,000/kg, while Thai varieties range from VND65,000-80,000/kg, and the prices in the Mekong Delta are even lower. Other fruits in HCM City such as rambutans (VND15,000-25,000/kg), 034 avocados (VND20,000-25,000/kg) and king oranges (VND5,000-7,000/kg) are also seeing sharp declines, causing concern among farmers. The Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association said major fruits such as durians, lychees and rambutans had a good season, with lychee output estimated at over 300,000 tonnes. However, domestic demand was low and durian exports to China were not as good as expected, causing prices to decrease. The association also said that from May to July, many fruits hit peak harvest at the same time. China remained the key buyer, accounting for over 90 per cent of Vietnam's durian exports, but export value so far this year was only 30–35 per cent of last year. - Vietnam News/ANN
The Star
22-04-2025
- Business
- The Star
Durian prices plummet in Vietnam's Mekong Delta as exports to China decline
MEKONG DELTA, (Vietnam): (Bernama-VNA/VN) Durian prices in Vietnam's Mekong Delta provinces are falling sharply, in some areas to just a third of the levels seen during the same period last year, as China tightens quality control procedures and delays customs clearance. In key durian-growing regions Tien Giang, Can Tho and Ben Tre, Ri6 sells for VND35,000-40,000 (US$1.40-1.60) per kilogramme (kg)at the orchard, compared to VND100,000-120,000 (US$3.90-4.70) a year ago, Vietnam News reported. Monthong durian from Thailand is also affected, with prices now at just VND60,000 to 70,000 (US$2.30 to 2.70) per kg. Tran Dình Phong, a durian farmer in Tien Giang, said that though his orchard was ready for harvest, traders were buying with caution, and even orders secured last month at VND60,000 per kg were now at risk of cancellation due to continuous price declines. "Currently, I can only retail to small traders at about VND45,000 per kilo for good quality fruits.' Farmers, traders and businesses are all feeling the pressure. Nguyen Minh Thai, a durian trader, said last year he bought 30 tonnes of durian per day for export to China, but only three to four tonnes since March this year, as partners slashed orders. He pointed out that China now requires 100 per cent inspection of durian shipments and rigorously tests for pesticide residues, heavy metals, and Auramine O (Basic Yellow 2 or BY2), a dye typically used in industry and banned due to its cancer risk. With inspection times lengthening, many shipments were left stockpiled at the border, resulting in fruits cracking and spoiling by the time they reached the market. Several businesses in Tien Giang said they had to sell domestically at a loss of up to 40 per cent after waiting too long for customs clearance. "The risk is too great, and so we are forced to limit purchases,' a business representative admitted. In 2024, durian exports fetched a record US$3.3 billion, making up nearly half of the country's earnings from fruits and vegetables. But in the first two months of this year, exports fell by 69 per cent to US$52.7 million. Exports to China, the main market, fell by 83 per cent to US$27 million as durian slipped from its top spot to third behind dragon fruit and banana. Businesses have called on authorities to negotiate with China to recognise the results of inspections conducted in Vietnam and to reduce the testing time to no more than four days. - Bernama-VNA/VN In addition, quality control should be improved at source, with guidance for farmers on using fertilisers and pesticides to comply with quality standards, they said. The Plant Protection Department said it had strengthened oversight of growing areas and packing facilities, suspending export codes for those that fail to meet standards on residues, heavy metals, or traceability. The Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association has warned that unless the issues with inspection and customs are resolved soon, the US$3.5 billion durian export target for 2025 may not be achieved, and the sector could continue to face heavy losses. -- BERNAMA-VNA/VN TAGS: Vietnam, durian, Mekong Delta, China, quality control, procedures
