The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is preparing a proposal for the Ministry of Public Security to crack down on illicit trade of rotten meat and viscera into Vietnam via the northern border.



This was stated at a meeting hosted in Hanoi on Monday by Diep Kinh Tan, deputy agriculture minister.

Over the last several months, relevant authorities have caught many smugglers transporting rotten meat from the northern region to Ho Chi Minh City as well as to other provinces in the southeastern region for sale in markets.

Because of a rise in rotten meat in the domestic market, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has established an inspectorate led by Mr. Tan to control illegal trade in livestock and poultry as well as illegal smuggling of rotten meat and viscera into Vietnam, particularly in eight localities.

According to Mr. Tan, inspectors have uncovered that upto 70 percent of the rotten meat brought into Vietnam is via Lang Son Province.

Some localities in the northern region have recently implemented thorough checks to control this trade; however, in most cases the goods are transported by porters who are just paid carriers.

Mr. Tan said that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will soon send a proposal to the Ministry of Public Security to launch a crack down on illicit traders as well as gangs trading in rotten meats.

According to Lang Son Province authorities, the rotten meat is being brought into Vietnam by traders who work in gangs to purchase and transport it into Vietnam.

Nguyen Thanh Son, deputy head of the Livestock Department and member of the Inspectorate, said that police forces and local authorities must begin investigating traders and crack down on illegal trade of rotten meat in Vietnam.

Cao Duc Phat, minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, also asked veterinary organs to work with the police and market management forces to disclose and uncover dens of rotten meat.

In related news, relevant authorities in Lao Cai Province have arrested Le Thi Thuy from Lao Cai City for smuggling nearly one ton of rotten pig viscera and feet from China for sale in the province.

Earlier Pham Van Dong, deputy head of the Animal Health Department in Lang Son Province, said they had arrested nearly 95 tons of contraband pig breasts that had been brought in from China.

SGGP