Presented by Hung Nguyen-Viet and Lucy Lapar at a workshop on approaches and methods for policy process research, Washington DC, 18-20 November 2013.

1. Supporting Agriculture and Health Ministries to
implement a national food safety policy based on
risk-based approaches
Nguyen Viet Hung and Ma. Lucila Lapar
Hanoi School of Public Health and ILRI
Workshop on Approaches and Methods for Policy Process Research
IFPRI-Washington, DC, 18-20 November 2013

2. Outline
 Policy environment
 Methods and approaches
 Case study of risk assessment taskforce
 Lessons learned and challenges
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3. The policy environment
The policy environment
 Ordinance on Hygiene and Safety of Food enforced in
2003, Ministry of Health
 Main focus: food contamination and outbreaks
 Vietnam Food Safety and Agricultural Health Action Plan
(2006), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
 Main goals: reduce food-related health impacts, increase exports
of high value products, improve agricultural health, ensure
effective coordination of WTO SPS commitments
 Strategic priorities: improve coordination among key agencies;
strengthen risk analysis capacity
 Law on quality of goods and products (2008)
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 Emphasis on responsibility of producers and retailers

4. The policy environment
The policy environment
 Livestock Development Strategy to 2020 (2008, updated
in 2010, MARD
 Underscores importance of food safety issues in livestock
 Food Safety Law (2011)
 Mandates assured food safety in both domestic and export
products (meat, fish, fruits, vegetables)
 Delegates three leading bodies responsible for food safety: MOH,
MARD, Ministry of Industry and Trade
 Restructuring of the Agricultural Sector Plan (2013)
 Improving value added of agricultural products through improved
food safety, among others.
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5. Enabling environment and demand
for risk assessment
Law of Food Safety (in effect since
7.2011)
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Decision of Primer Minister 3.2013
“Rapid detection system for food safety
and risk analysis”
Circular of MARD 5.2013
“RA in food safety
management”

6. Research and Policy in Development
Framework
 Identifies four core components affecting policy making
Source: Crewe and Young, 2002

7. Methods and approaches
 Risk analysis approach
 Introducing concepts of risks vs. hazards
 Developing and/or strengthening national capacity
 Application in research design and implementation
 Outcome mapping approach
 Mapping a pathway to desired food safety outcomes
 Identifying strategic partners and actions that will deliver policy
outcomes for effective risk management
 Participatory risk assessment
 Generating evidence to inform policymaking
 Appropriate to research on informal markets

8. Key Actors in the Policymaking Process in Vietnam
Broad Issue Definition
Politburo, Central Committee,
National Assembly
(Sub) Sector Agenda Setting
MARD/Vice-Minister for
Livestock
Formulation
DLP, DAH, NIVR
Adoption
DLP, DAH, PPD, FD, MF, MPI,
Relevant Min.s, PMХsOffice
Implementation
DARDs
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INTERNATIONAL LIVESTOCK RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Evaluation
DARDs, IPSARD, NIAH, NIVR

9. Advocacy Strategy
 Increase policy dialogue among all key
stakeholders.
 Support available capacity while encouraging
capacity development.
 Identify, support and develop a coalition for
change.
 Promote longevity of project findings.
 Ensure broad but targeted dissemination of project
materials.
 Ensure advocacy does not directly oppose current
sector direction.
 Ensure dynamic strategy which adapts to an
evolving political context.
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INTERNATIONAL LIVESTOCK RESEARCH INSTITUTE

10. Case study
TASKFORCE OF RISK ASSESSMENT FOR FOOD
SAFETY IN VIETNAM: LINKING SCIENCE TO
POLICY TO INCREASE FOOD SAFETY AND
LIVELIHOOD GENERATION OF THE POOR
FARMERS
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11. Partnership, demand creation, mutual
understanding
Research
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Food
Safety
Policy
Creating demand for collaboration between
Policy makers and researchers

12. Taskforce: Risk assessment for food safety
 Lack of local capacity in practical application of risk assessment (RA).
The situation is especially urgent in Vietnam’s informal markets,
where most domestically produced food is bought and sold. RA is
rarely applied in these settings.
 Task Force: brings together representatives from Vietnam’s Ministry
of Health, its Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and
researchers involved in RA and food safety from key universities and
research institutes.
 The Task Force is developing guidelines for use of RA on behalf of
food safety management in informal markets catering to local
consumers. These guidelines will be used to train a wide range of
decision-makers, including high-level policymakers
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13. FIRST WORSHOP OF RISK ASSESSMENT
EXPERT FOR FOOD SAFETY
Hanoi, 30 December – 2011
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- No follow–up from MOH and WHO
- CENPHER wanted to take this up

14. ILRI

15. Taskforce composition
Food safety risk assessment experts from Universities,
research institutes, policy makers from MOH and MARD:
Academia
–
–
–
HSPH, HUA
NIHE, NIN, NIVR (North), HIPHH, Pasteur Institute (South)
Food safety program (CIDA, LIFSAP)
Policy makers
–
–
–
–
–
Food Safety Administration (VFA)
Department of Science, Training and Technology
Department of Animal Health (DAH)
National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department (NAFIQAD)
Department of Livestock Development (MARD)
Provate (consultancy – to be included)
–
–
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Consumption
Other value chain actors
Close collaboration between science and policy
Taskforce works on “case studies” on risk assessment of food
commodities prioritized by policy makers and develop

16. Taskforce activities
 Situational analysis of food safety policy in Vietnam and use of
evidence from research to inform policy
 Forming a taskforce of risk assessment in Vietnam
 Special issue of risk assessment in health research in Vietnam
 Kick-off workshop to define activities and priority issues
 Case studies and risk assessment guideline development
 Trainings and follow-up
 Communication
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17. Frist meeting 8.2013
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18. Administrative structure of the
taskforce as envisioned
 Become a technical team of the inter-ministerial
committee of food safety risk assessment  highly
and officially solicited by policy makers
 Mobilizing funding from the government in future
 Backup from international partners
 Independence vs. dependence of risk managers
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19. Outputs, communication, trainings
 Special edition of Risk assessment in
Vietnamese
 Policy brief
 Manuals
 Trainings

20. Outputs/Outcomes, communication, trainings
 Training on advanced RA for the taskforce by ILRI
– In Hanoi in August 2013
 Training on RA requested by MARD
– In Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city in November 2013
 Case studies: on going on meat, vegetables

21. Other training courses
 FAO: 27-31.5.2013 – Hà Nội
 SEAOHUN One Health risk
assessment 3-7.6.2013: Hà Nội
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22. Lessons learned, challenges and way forward
 Timely demand and need for risk assessment in Vietnam
 Proactive approaches to policy makers to offer our
expertise
 Learning by doing through case studies
 Dependence/independence of taskforce vs. Request of
policy makers
 Further interactions with policy makers and keep the
momentum…
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23. Acknowledgements
Funding and partners:
ILRI, CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for
Nutrition and Health
Thank you for your attention !