Home Investments The Green Tick Initiative: Empowering Supermarkets to Take the Lead

Investments

The Green Tick Initiative: Empowering Supermarkets to Take the Lead

22 June, 2025

On June 20, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Department of Industry and Trade held a conference to mark the one-year anniversary of the “Tick xanh trách nhiệm” program and launched an expanded version for e-commerce.

Tick xanh trách nhiệm: A supermarket-led initiative

The “Tick xanh trách nhiệm” program is a voluntary initiative where supermarkets and suppliers publicly disclose their production processes, quality standards, and commit to taking responsibility for their products. They also pledge to stop faulty products at the production stage.

Products meeting the criteria will be labeled with the “Tick xanh trách nhiệm” seal, making it easier for consumers to identify them.

A notable feature of the program is its stringent monitoring mechanism. If a supermarket detects any product that violates food safety regulations or fails to meet quality requirements, the product will be immediately removed from the shelves. The supplier then has 24 hours to report and rectify the issue.

If the supplier fails to address the issue, all retail systems will consider halting the import of their products and may even disclose the violation to consumers.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, the “Tick xanh trách nhiệm” program, launched in March 2024, has already yielded positive results.

During the pilot phase, eight major retail systems, including Saigon Co.op, Satra, MM Mega Market, Aeon, Central Retail, Bach Hoa Xanh, WinCommerce, and KingFood, participated, focusing on three main product groups: meat, vegetables, and fruits.

Currently, the program has expanded to include 11 large retail systems and 308 suppliers, with 2,049 products bearing the “Tick xanh trách nhiệm” label.

Notably, the participation of foreign-invested enterprises demonstrates the program’s far-reaching impact.

Mr. Bui Ta Hoang Vu, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, stated that this is just the initial success, and more efforts are needed to unify and promulgate regulations and common standards. He also emphasized the importance of close coordination with relevant agencies in the inspection and product information disclosure process.

Consumers choosing “Tick xanh trách nhiệm” products

Mr. Dinh Quang Khoi, Marketing Director of MM Mega Market Vietnam, shared that their system has successfully engaged nearly 50 suppliers, offering almost 140 products, many of which are OCOP-certified agricultural products that joined the program from the beginning.

Notably, the “Tick xanh trách nhiệm” group of products at MM Mega Market has witnessed an impressive 20% growth in revenue.

Mr. Nguyen Nguyen Phuong, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, analyzed that the supply chain for goods, especially food, is very long. It only takes one irresponsible link to affect the entire chain, and consumers bear the brunt of the consequences.

“A feasible solution is to ensure transparency and have entities publicly declare and commit to doing what they say. This way, it will be clear which entities voluntarily participate and which do not,” Mr. Phuong stated.

According to Mr. Phuong, the authorities decided to hand over the implementation to the distribution systems to expedite the process and expand the scale of the tick xanh program, making it easier for consumers to access more quality products.

Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade authorizes 11 retail systems to manage and implement “Tick xanh trách nhiệm”

Extending “Tick xanh” to E-commerce

Alongside legitimate businesses providing reputable products, there are still households and enterprises in the market that do not comply with legal regulations.

Recently, the Prime Minister directed an intensive month-long campaign against smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeiting. The Market Management Force has actively responded to this directive.

The nature of e-commerce, where buyers and sellers don’t meet in person, has made it a fertile ground for counterfeit goods. Recognizing this, we have actively advocated, and four major e-commerce platforms have joined the “Tick xanh” program.

The collaboration between the Department of Industry and Trade and e-commerce platforms is a positive sign. It demonstrates a commitment to effectively implementing policies, as well as emphasizing the responsibility of distributors and suppliers towards consumers.

Mr. Bui Ta Hoang Vu, Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade

According to the representative of the Department of Industry and Trade, in the past five years, Vietnam has been one of the fastest-growing e-commerce markets in Southeast Asia.

However, this boom has also led to an increase in fraudulent activities, false advertising, the sale of counterfeit goods, and the exploitation of influencers (KOLs/KOCs) for profit.

Thousands of products of unknown origin and substandard quality continue to find their way onto e-commerce platforms, while some KOCs and KOLs inadvertently promote them, leaving consumers confused and misinformed.

Following the success of the tick xanh program in retail systems, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade officially launched the “Tick xanh trách nhiệm TMĐT” to redefine ethical standards and responsibilities within this ecosystem.

The program targets three main entities: e-commerce platforms, online sellers, and affiliate marketers (KOLs/KOCs).

E-commerce platforms commit to creating a responsible ecosystem, complying with laws, and protecting consumers. They prioritize supporting online sellers and affiliate marketers with the “Tick xanh” recognition while taking decisive action against violations.

Online sellers pledge to offer only legal and traceable products, take responsibility for their quality, provide transparent information, refrain from false advertising, and respect intellectual property rights.

They also commit to transparency in product information, pricing, and sales policies, as well as fulfilling tax and financial obligations.

KOLs and KOCs, on the other hand, commit to promoting only legal and traceable products, avoiding exaggerated claims, being transparent about commercial collaborations, and promoting only products they have personally experienced or thoroughly researched.

Mr. Pham Thanh Kien, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council, remarked that “Tick xanh” is not just a soft management tool but also a new ethical standard in trade.

According to Mr. Kien, to ensure the success of this initiative, it is necessary to establish “Tick xanh” as a trustworthy ethical standard. This involves transparent monitoring and serious handling of violations.

Additionally, it entails enhancing the role of e-commerce platforms in filtering, training, and transparent display, as well as fostering a culture of responsible consumption.

The “Tick xanh trách nhiệm TMĐT” operates on the principles of Voluntarism, Self-commitment, and Self-monitoring.

Participating entities sign a Code of Conduct and submit it to the Department of Industry and Trade or through the affiliated marketing channels/platforms.

Once recognized, they are permitted to display the “Tick xanh” logo on their storefronts, personal profiles, or social media accounts.

Consumers, the media, and other businesses can provide feedback and monitor compliance.

Violations will be addressed through warnings, revocation of the “Tick xanh” recognition, public disclosure of violations, restricted display, or removal from the system if necessary.

TU UYEN

– 10:00 21/06/2025