Inspectors in Hanoi inspect bottled water from the Quang Tuan Company

Nine more bottled water producers in Hanoi and eleven others in the central province of Quang Ngai have been suspended, increasing consumer worries about unhygienic products.

The city’s Center for Preventive Health had found nine of 57 samples were too alkaline, with pH degrees of between 5.9 and 6.3, while the standard is between 6.5 and 8.5.

Le Anh Tuan, director of the Hanoi Health Department, said they had revoked and destroyed all product batches in violation and fined producers between VND2-6 million (US$113-$339).

Tuan said the producers must have products from other batches tested before they can resume selling.

Nguyen Viet Cuong, the department’s chief inspector, said only 57 of the 120 samples collected have been tested, adding that there are a total of 243 bottled water producers in the city.

He pledged to complete testing of all water producers in the city and announce the results in June.

The latest suspensions are: Aquachi of Linh Hang Company; Warteno of Thanh Hoa Phat Company; Jeden Voda of Jeden Voda; Only of Hanoi Liquor JSC; and products of the Suoi Tien Company, Binh Duong Company, the February 19 Invalids’ Cooperative, Environment Technology Company, and the 24 Quoc Te Company.

In Quang Ngai Province, health inspectors have suspended 11 of the 23 producers inspected from March 23-31.

The inspectors said the suspended producers had violated safety and hygiene regulations, including failing to register product quality, applying improper processes and skipping required tests.

One of the violators, Daviwa in Binh Son District, was operating illegally without a license to produce bottled water, inspectors said.

Last month, Ho Chi Minh City’s Health Department had suspended 29 bottled water producers in the city, 11 of whom had bottled water contaminated with bacteria.

Reported by Minh Ngoc – Thai Anh