VietNamNet Bridge – Chairman of the Viet Nam Environmental Economics Association, Nguyen The Chinh, spoke with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper about Vedan, the MSG producer found to be seriously polluting the Thi Vai River.

Many enterprises have waste treatment systems, but they don’t use them.

Many enterprises have waste treatment systems, but they don’t use them. When environment agencies carry out inspections, they use treatment systems, otherwise untreated waste is released directly into the environment.

Therefore, inspectors must catch them in the act and prove that they are discharging waste illegally.

Before building a factory, companies must provide an environmental impact assessment, but they often renege on their commitments, what do you think of this problem?

The problem here is that compliance is expensive, factories will lose profit to environmental protection measures. Investors often lack a specific business plan but are licensed anyway.

Enterprises want to maximise their profits. We need to raise their awareness of the relationship between profit and social responsibility. Companies which have sound business models and whose owners are well educated usually focus more on social responsibilities.

It is wise for an enterprise to pay attention to environment protection as the enterprise can promote its friendly-environmental image.

Internationally certified ISO 14000 companies must address environmental concerns to get licensed, the same is true for Viet Nam, so local companies that get international accreditation must also comply with ISO 14000 environmental standards.

If companies are focusing on profits, and inspection agencies are having difficulty managing companies, is there any collusion between the two sides that is allowing this to happen?

We cannot exclude the collusion factor, thus we also need better supervision of management authorities. Many citizens see environment pollution everyday, so it’s unreasonable to say authorities do not see it, it is unacceptable when authorities say that they do not know of any companies causing pollution.

How can they discover violations in small enterprises when a large enterprise like Vedan can go unnoticed?

What do you think should be done to stop polluters like Vedan?

I think, before a factory is built, there must be better environmental planning and authorities must collect public opinion before approving the project, authorities should also consider the enterprises’ financial capacity to deal with pollution treatment before a license is granted.

Agencies must also promote environmental protection and corporate responsibility, and should be able to heavily fine violators, so that they think twice about polluting the environment. Information about companies causing pollution must be publicised so that consumers can better assess a companies’ image.

(Source: Viet Nam News)