VietNamNet Bridge – Ethephon, a banned chemical substance, is still used to keep meat fresh in some provinces, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's National Argo-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department (NAFIQAD).

A canned food production chain at Vissan Co Ltd in HCM City. The company is one of those known not to use any meat products containing any illegal preservatives. (Photo: VNS)

The inspections are carried out every three months in different cities and provinces.

Director of the Quality Assurance Department Nguyen Nhu Tiep said that the chemical additive was colourless, odourless and was sold in 5-millilitre bottles.

However, he said people who came in contact with just 0.05ml of the substance can suffer from bloodshot and smarting eyes and swollen skin.

The substance could eventually harm the body's nervous system, causing an increase in perspiration, uncontrolled urination and muscle weakness.

Tiep said some foreign countries allowed small amounts of the substance to be used to quickly ripen fruit, but it was completely banned in preserving beef, pork and poultry meat.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat said that in many provinces, traders or even veterinary workers often provided the substance to farmers, even though they knew it was banned.

Tiep said ethephon was illegally imported through border provinces and was therefore difficult to control.

Part of the answer was for the Quality Assurance Department to join local authorities in tightening management of slaughter houses.

Tiep said the existing punishment of VND40 million (US$1,940) was strict enough necessary to strengthen inspection and management.

"Another task is to advise breeders and slaughterers of the banned substances and the harm they could cause," he said.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News