On April 15, Nguyen Hung Long, Deputy Director of the Food Safety Authority under the Ministry of Health, signed an official request for local health departments to review and submit detailed information on companies involved in the case.

The directive was sent to health departments across the country, including Ho Chi Minh City's Food Safety Management Authority, the Da Nang Food Safety Management Board, and the food safety divisions in Hanoi, Hoa Binh, Hung Yen, and Hai Duong.

The move follows a recent announcement by the Ministry of Public Security, which revealed the dismantling of a large-scale counterfeit milk production network operating in Hanoi and neighboring provinces.

To provide accurate reports to higher authorities, the Food Safety Authority has asked relevant agencies to review all product declarations made by 11 identified companies and their branches, if applicable.

“If any of these companies have registered products locally, please provide the number and names of the declared products, review the issuance of food safety eligibility certificates, and report any inspection or administrative actions taken from 2021 to the present,” Deputy Director Nguyen Hung Long stated.

The Ministry requested that all findings be compiled and submitted promptly to the Food Safety Authority.

As previously reported by VietNamNet, the Ministry of Public Security recently busted a counterfeit milk operation with an estimated revenue of nearly VND 500 billion (approximately USD 20 million). The two primary entities involved are Rance Pharma International Pharmaceutical JSC and Hacofood Group Nutrition Pharmaceutical JSC, both headquartered in Ha Dong, Hanoi.

Investigations revealed that since August 2021, the suspects used these companies to manufacture and market nutritional products, dietary supplements, and powdered milk. A total of 573 product lines were produced and distributed.

The products targeted vulnerable consumers, including people with diabetes, kidney failure, premature infants, and pregnant women. While marketing their formulas as containing ingredients such as bird’s nest extract, cordyceps, macadamia, and walnut powder, the actual products contained none of these substances. Instead, low-cost raw materials and food additives were substituted.

Authorities determined that the nutritional content of some products was less than 70% of the declared value, qualifying them as counterfeit under Vietnamese law.

The masterminds also established partnerships and equity-based ventures with other parties, creating a network of nine additional companies to distribute their products nationwide.

List of involved companies:

Rance Pharma International Pharmaceutical JSC
Hacofood Group Nutrition Pharmaceutical JSC
Group International Pharmaceutical JSC
Big Four Pharma International Pharmaceutical JSC
Long Khang Group International Pharmaceutical JSC
BFF Medical Nutrition JSC
Safaco Group International Pharmaceutical JSC
Darifa Group International Pharmaceutical JSC
Win CT International Pharmaceutical JSC
Phuc An Khang Nutrition Pharmaceutical JSC
Asia Pharmaceutical JSC

Vo Thu