Vietnam’s scandal-hit Halong Canfoco loses food safety certification, reopening date unclear

The company, fully known as Ha Long Canned Food JSC based in Hai Phong City, northern Vietnam, disclosed the information in a report sent to the Hanoi Stock Exchange on Wednesday, following a request for clarification related to the destruction of violating materials and the temporary shutdown of its Hai Phong plant.

According to the report, Halong Canfoco halted production on January 12 this year, following the withdrawal of its ISO management certification under Decision No. 2026-002/QD-CERT issued on January 10.

At the same time, its FSSC 22000 food safety certification was suspended, making its products ineligible for market circulation.

Halong Canfoco announced a temporary shutdown of up to 14 days to implement corrective measures aimed at regaining the revoked certifications.

The company outlined several steps, including strengthening management systems, reviewing supply chains, improving production processes, enhancing supplier controls, tightening raw material inspections, conducting risk assessments, and retraining employees.

Regarding reports of destroying approximately 1.7 metric tons of finished pâté, equivalent to about 14,000 cans, the company clarified that the products were inventory at the Hai Phong plant and not made from the contaminated raw materials under investigation.

However, the company decided to destroy the stock as a precaution to prevent potential disease risks.

Despite the crisis, Halong Canfoco insisted the destroyed volume was small compared to overall production and would not significantly affect its financial results or business continuity.

The company’s management board will determine whether the suspension extends beyond 14 days, depending on developments.

The certification suspension comes amid a major food safety scandal.

On September 8 last year, Hai Phong police discovered two trucks transporting 1,274.5 kilograms of pork of unknown origin that showed signs of spoilage and later tested positive for African swine fever.

Subsequent searches led authorities to seal four cold storage warehouses containing over 130 metric tons of frozen pork linked to Halong Canfoco, all of which were later destroyed.

On September 12, investigators launched criminal proceedings for violations of food safety regulations.

On December 24 the same year, investigators issued decisions to prosecute nine suspects for supplying and trading food originating from dead or sick pigs infected with African swine fever.

By January 10, the company’s CEO Truong Sy Toan and three quality control employees were arrested for their alleged roles in managing, storing, and using diseased pork in production.

The company announced the cessation of its production in Hai Phong following this arrest.

After this scandal broke out, a senior quarantine inspection official identified as 52-year-old Tran Thi Huong was also detained for allegedly accepting bribes from Halong Canfoco.

Le Nhat Huy, 36, a customer service employee at Halong Canfoco, also surrendered to police.

Founded in 1957 in Hai Phong under its original name ‘Halong Canned Food Factory,’ Halong Canfoco was once a pioneer and leading enterprise in Vietnam’s processed food industry.

According to information published on its website, after nearly 70 years of operation, the company has developed an ecosystem consisting of three factories and three offices supporting its manufacturing and business activities.