Ministry tightens inspection of imported meat

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has issued a new regulation calling for stricter meat import inspections.

The new decree, which will take effect July 1, requires export countries to register their domestic businesses to meet hygiene demands with Vietnamese agencies. It stipulates that only these enterprises will be able to export meat into Vietnam. Certificates of safety must be enclosed with import consignments.

According to the ministry, in the first five months of 2010, frozen meat imports increased three-fold over the last months of 2009. Pork imports alone have reached 500,000 tons, consisting mainly of heads, feet and tails.

This year’s outbreaks of blue ear, however, stalled containers of frozen chicken and pigs at ports in Hai Phong, Mong Cai and HCM City.

Many businesses have been trying to avoid stricter inspections by importing large shipments before the regulation takes effect, the department admitted.

MARD said that all newly imported containers would be placed under scrutiny and that importers would be ordered to re-export food if shipments are found to have skirted hygiene requirements. Warnings would also be sent to exporting countries.

Companies found to have intentionally breached regulations would be shut down.

At the same time, household farmers and food-processing firms are concerned over the massive meat imports that they say will put pressure on domestic breeding. Since 2008, tens of tons of unsafe meat have been imported into Vietnam in what the press has deemed “the dirty meat saga”.

Tags: Vietnam meat imports