ASSIST and TUV Rheinland conduct training for food safety professionals and managers in Vietnam

Sept. 5, 2011 - PRLog -- To promote awareness on the international food standards (HACCP/ISO22000) and international food safety regulations in Vietnam, Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) partnered with TUV Rheinland in holding a Training Series for Food Safety Professionals and Managers under the SAFE Vietnam Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project last July 14-15, 28-29 and Aug 2-3 for professionals and August 8-9, 11-12 and 15-16, 2011 for managers.

SAFE Vietnam (Structured program to Achieve Food Safety Excellence in Vietnam) is DEG-funded initiative that seeks to create a broad impact on the food safety and hygiene awareness in the entire country's supply chain for the agricultural and dairy sector. The PPP recognizes Vietnam's growth as a major food processor and exporter in the global market.

Leading private as well as state-owned companies in food industry joined the training such as Vinamilk, Metro, Golden Hope NhaBe, VinaCafe, CanTho Plant Protection Sub-Department, Can ThoQuality/Assurance Sub-Department,National Argo-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Sub-Department Daklak, and 2/9 Import-Export Company.

Attended by 77 professionals and 44 managers, the training was led by Nguyen Huu Dung, who has acquired a wide range of experience in food safety following his education at the Hanoi University of Technology Faculty of Chemical Technology.

Dung rose from the ranks to become Chief of Science and Standards Section, and the Integration and Development Division of Vietnam Food Administration. He also served as Inspector at the National Fisheries Inspection and Quality Assurance Centre. In addition, Dung is a Lead Auditor for ISO 14000, OHSAS 18000, ISO 22000 and ISO 9001.

Other activities lined up for SAFE Vietnam include mass awareness campaigns, CEO Forums, Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue Sessions, Technical Training and Certification programs, Training of Trainers, and development of e-learning tools and self-auditing guide for beneficiaries.

ASSIST is an international non-government organization focused on capacity building. It seeks to promote sustainable practices to address social problems in the developing world, with focus on Asia and Africa. It takes pride in its process-oriented approach to capacity building towards social improvement and sustainable transformation. Its goal is to empower its target groups to make them resilient to the social, economic and environmental challenges.

It is presently based in Makati City, but also has operations in India and Vietnam and manages projects in over 10 countries. Through its Partner to Progress philosophy, it has successfully implemented such projects in collaboration with the European Union, United Nation Environment Program (UNEP), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), USAID, International Finance Corporation (IFC), GIZ, and DEG/ KFW amongst other organizations.

Meanwhile, the TÜV Rheinland Group is a leading provider of technical services worldwide. Since its foundation in 1872, TÜV Rheinland has been developing safe and sustainable solutions for the challenges arising from the interaction between man, the environment and technology. As an independent, neutral and professional organization, TÜV Rheinland is committed to working towards a future that can fulfill the needs of mankind and the environment in the long-term.

Finally, DEG is a member of the KfW Bankengruppe (KfW banking group), which finances investments of private companies in developing and transition countries. As one of Europe's largest development finance institutions, it promotes private business structures to contribute to sustainable economic growth and improved living conditions.#

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Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) is an international NGO focused on capacity building. It seeks to promote sustainable practices to address social problems in the developing world, with focus on Asia and Africa.