Vietnam Proposes Identity Verification for Online Food Sellers

Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security is pushing for stricter regulations on online food sales, proposing that social media platforms must verify the identities of individuals selling food products. This move comes as authorities observe a trend of counterfeit and substandard goods being increasingly sold through e-commerce sites and social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok.

The ministry argues that current draft policies primarily address online advertising, neglecting the actual sale of potentially harmful products. To combat this, they propose that the amended Law on Food Safety should include specific provisions detailing the responsibilities of e-commerce platforms and social media networks in overseeing food businesses. These platforms would be required to verify sellers' identities, maintain transaction records, and provide data to authorities upon request for regulatory, inspection, and investigative purposes.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Public Security suggests that platforms should be responsible for promptly removing products flagged by authorities or found to be in violation of regulations. Responding to these concerns, the Ministry of Health has indicated its intention to include stipulations in the draft law that would mandate platform providers to establish vetting mechanisms. Sellers would need to provide and publicly disclose all required product legal documentation.

The draft law also aims to define joint liability for e-commerce service providers who fail to implement necessary vetting measures, leading to food safety incidents and consumer harm. Additionally, the proposal includes establishing a reward system for citizens who report violations and suggests implementing administrative penalties based on a business's revenue, coupled with supplementary punishments.