VietNamNet Bridge – The price of pork in the southern Dong Nai Province has fallen from VND46,000 per kg (US$2.11) to VND43,000 ($1.97).

The reported use of a banned substance has led to a fall in the demand and price of pork products in the southern Dong Nai Province. — Photo vietnamplus.vn

This followed a report on Tuesday (August 4) that a random sample test had indicated the presence of a banned substance in pork products, the provincial livestock association said.  

Fourteen out of 48 random samples taken from Vinh Cuu, Trang Bom, Xuan Loc and Long Thanh districts tested positive for Salbutamol, a banned growth substance belonging to the beta-agonist group that has long been banned by the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Health Organisation.  

Nguyen Kim Doan, deputy head of the provincial livestock association, said the falling price of pork products in the province was the result of farmers' practices that used banned substances. The development has spread fear among consumers and has affected demand.  

The deputy head, however, did not rule out the possibility that wholesalers and retailers were involved in manipulating prices to purchase pork from farmers at lower prices.  

The authority fined farmers found to be using the banned substance VND15 million ($690). Their livestock also will not be allowed to be sold till they are deemed safe for sale.  

The provincial livestock association said the fine, which they believed to be too light, would not stop the farmers from using banned substances in the future.

It said it was unfair to other farmers who did not use the banned substance, but nevertheless were adversely affected by the falling price.

VNS