On May 13, 2026, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan officially handed over the appointment decision to Dr. Chu Quoc Thinh, naming him the Director General of the Vietnam Food Administration (VFA). The term of office is five years, effective from the date of signing.
Professional background and career path The 45-year-old Director General, Dr. Chu Quoc Thinh, possesses extensive experience in pharmaceutical and cosmetic management. Prior to this appointment, he held several key positions:
-
Head of the Cosmetic Management Division and Head of the Drug Registration Division at the Drug Administration of Vietnam.
-
Vice Director of the VFA (since June 2024).
-
Acting Director of the VFA (since August 2025, following the suspension of his predecessor for legal investigations).
Key priorities for the new term At the inauguration ceremony, Minister Dao Hong Lan emphasized the heavy and urgent workload facing the VFA, particularly in addressing existing regulatory shortcomings. Strategic objectives include:
-
Amending the Law on Food Safety: Updating regulations to align with the current landscape.
-
Unified management focal point: Developing a proposal to centralize food safety management under a single authority as directed by the central government.
-
Digital transformation: Establishing a national food safety database to ensure seamless connectivity between central and local authorities.
-
Enhanced post-market surveillance: Strengthening risk analysis, early warning systems, and post-market inspections.
The completion of the leadership team after a nine-month vacancy at the Director General level is expected to stabilize the organization and improve the effectiveness of state management regarding public health and food safety.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bo-y-te-bo-nhiem-cuc-truong-cuc-an-toan-thuc-pham-20260513173044733.htm