HCMC plans to reserve pork, poultry as ASF virus spreads fast

Standing Deputy Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem yesterday presided a meeting on plan for battling against entrance of African Swine Fever, for which there is no cure or vaccine, into the city.

He called for the proactive participation of state agencies and communities in coping with the virus if outbreaks of ASF recur in the city’s neighboring provinces. He asked veterinary and health managing agencies to set up quarantine stations in bordering roads or ways to strictly control illicit slaughter.

Since deadly swine fever is ravaging the country's pork industry, those in charge of controlling slaughter will be punished if illegal culling occurs in the area under their jurisdiction since May 10.
Responsible agencies will regularly take samples for testing.

Mr. Liem ordered all agencies to implement measures against the virus according to the second hypothetic situation and prepare for the third hypothetic situation that ASF enters HCMC.

According to the municipal department of Animal Health, it has worked with its peer in the southern province of Dong Nai and other provinces from May 2 upon the matter. They arrived at some solutions including no quarantine certificate issuance to slaughterhouses in the virus-affected areas and increase visits to slaughterhouses in suburban districts where border with provinces supplying pork for the city.

Moreover, only pork from non-infected areas can be enter the city and quarantine certificate must write the name of farm and its owner. Pork will be transported through the National Highway 1A and 1 K and vehicles carrying pork must be disinfected in the Xuan Hiep Quarantine Station in Thu Duc District.

Pork is the most widely consumed meat in the country. The disease has caused a risk of shortage of port in the country in general and HCMC in particular.

On the same day, the Department of Industry and Trade said that it has checked the reservation of pork as well as business plans of the companies that have participated in the city market subsidy program.

According to the department, the food companies have committedto ensure enough supply of pork and poultry with 147 tons of pork and 400 tons of water fowls.

At the meeting State-run Vissan Co, Vietnam's leading foodstuff processor, promised to keep 3,600 tons of pork in 45 days while Sargifood said it focused on supply breeding hogs to help farmers re-raising.

Ba Huan firm pledged to supply poultry meat to replace pork in case that ASF virus has ravaged pig farms.

The People’s Committee in the southern province of Binh Phuoc yesterday announced outbreaks of ASF in Dong Phu District. SGGP

Anh Quan