 People talk about the new measures to improve public health and safety Mr Ketkeo Xayalath, 25, a resident of Sixomxeun village, said: "The new law is really good because at the moment we don't know if the food that we eat everyday is safe or not. We just buy it and eat it. I think that when we have the law, people will be less worried about what they eat. In addition, the foreigners who come to visit our country won't have to worry about stomachaches and viruses. But the most important thing is to put the law into practice. Everybody has to follow the law. If we have a law but nobody follows it then it is useless. I know that talking about something is much easier than doing it so I am not sure whether the people will follow the law. I think that the authorities might want to begin enforcing the law in specific areas such as roadside vendors and restaurants where many people like to eat. If the authorities check the quality of food and the shops are found to be clean then it will be a success. If we can do this for one sector or area then we can do it in all sectors." Ms Sisavay Kangphon, 40, a resident in Thongkhankham village, said: "No one can object to the food law because it directly affects our lives. We have to eat food everyday, so we want to make sure that it is good food and is safe for our bodies. Right now, the food in Laos is not checked strictly. Some companies who produce food mix it with artificial colouring because they want to make it attractive for consumers. However, they don't care about the risk to public health. If we consume too many chemicals like this then it can be dangerous. If we have a law then at least it provides guidelines for officials to go and check the content of food. We need to focus on companies that manufacture food. The most important thing is enforcement of the law. If the authorities don't care about enforcing the law then the public won't care about following the law. We also have to check imported products much more than we do at the moment. Some illegal food is imported but the authorities do not check it because it is smuggled in and does not go through the official checkpoints." Another resident of Vientiane, said: "I think it will be very difficult for the food law to be enforced in our country. I see many factories that have restaurants selling cheap food to their workers. If the owners of restaurants cook meals safely or sell them in a clean environment then this is good. But to be able to do this the cost of food production will up. The food will be more expensive and workers who get small wages will not be able to buy it. I think Laos should have a law which controls prices along with food safety otherwise a good law could have bad effects on the lives of poor workers. Foreigners and city office workers can choose to eat at good restaurants, which serve good quality food. However, factory workers cannot eat at these restaurants. They don't care about whether the food is good for their health or not. They just care about keeping their stomachs full and saving their money." Mr Seethong Thongkeo, a National Assembly member for Champassak province, said: "We have created the food law to help improve the living conditions of the people. Food consumption is very important for life. In the past, we ate just to keep living. Right now, things are changing and the policy is to eat for good health. We have a law to use, but I don't think that we can do everything that the law stipulates immediately. It will take some time. Some people don't understand about eating for good health. Some people in the countryside, or remote areas still eat raw meat or uncooked blood. We can't force them to stop eating these things immediately. At least we have a law, it will be better than if we don't have anything. Things will improve step by step. If we can't enforce the law strictly right now, in the future the law will be enforced as strictly as possible. It also depends on the economy. When the economy is good, our living conditions will improve. After the president approves the law it will be put into use." The owner of a restaurant in Vientiane, said: "I didn't know that there is a new food law. If there is a law for the owners of restaurants then I have to do everything that the law tells me to do. If I don't do it, maybe the officials will fine my restaurant or order me to close. I still don't know what the law talks about. I think that everybody who runs a business that concerns food should do what the officials say and follow the law to the letter. Since I opened the shop, I have never had officials come and check the food in my restaurant. If they have a law like this, I think that the officials will come to check and advise me about the law." Another resident of Vientiane, said: "I am not sure that the officials will enforce the law. Checking the quality of food is quite hard and differs depending on the size and type of business that sells food. Do medicines and drinks come under the law? What about imported products? And there are many small restaurants so how can they check them all? I worry that if they pass the law then they will check food producers only once and then leave them alone for a long time before checking again. If they do this, then traders can easily break the law and cook unhealthy food. If it is possible, they must enforce the law on a regular basis to make sure that the food that they sell is safe for consumption." |
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