LookAtVietnam – The Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) on October 27 asked organisers to reclaim quality awards presented to Vedan Vietnam.

The Centre for Brand and Quality Development Consulting’s director Nguyen Thi Sinh explained to reporters about the case.

MoST held a press conference on October 27 regarding Vedan’s certificate of “Quality product for community health”. Ngo Quy Viet, chief of the General Department for Quality Standardisation and Measurement, said the ministry had asked its southern office in HCM City and the organising board to urgently revoke the certificate that it granted to Vedan Vietnam.

Despite earlier confusion, MoST verified and confirmed that Vedan was presented the certificate for “Outstanding business in applying quality management systems” and “Top 100 quality products for community health” on October 11.

However they claim the awards were made in error.

The controversy is as a result of Vedan discharging untreated waste water into the Thi Vai river over a long period of time. To date the company is yet to pay the requested compensation to affected local farmers.

On October 27, Bui Van Quyen, representative of the MoST’s southern office, chaired a press conference about this case.

Quyen said that that a lack of communication between members of the organizing board meant mistakes occurring in the selection of winners by the Centre for Brand and Quality Development Consulting. The responsibility firstly belongs to Nguyen Thi Sinh, the centre’s director. The organising board will take back the certificates.

Sinh explained that Vedan Vietnam was invited to the award ceremony at the HCM City Opera House on October 11 as a participant, not a winner. However, the centre’s staff made a mistake so Vedan got the certificate. The original list of winners approved by Quyen didn’t include Vedan.

PV