Photo: VietNamNetIn a report to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long, the Ministry described significant delays in clearing agricultural imports since Decree 46 came into effect on January 26, 2026. But the new decree, which tightens control over food safety for imported goods, has led to mounting bottlenecks. Critically, Decree 46 does not allow businesses to transport goods to their own storage facilities while waiting for food safety results. To streamline enforcement, the Ministry is considering delegating food safety checks for agricultural imports to provincial governments, allowing them to handle cases locally and with more flexibility. In the meantime, the Ministry recommends the Prime Minister assign the Ministry of Health to coordinate with other ministries to urgently revise Decree 46 for better feasibility.

Source: VietNamNet News February 02, 2026 02:25 UTC