VietNamNet Bridge - To avoid environmental pollution and bird flu, the HCM City authorities do not allow raising swiftlets in the downtown area and the new urban areas, except for Can Gio District.

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HCM City Chairman Le Hoang Quan has issued an instruction on this issue in order to protect the environment and prevent disease transmission from birds to human and vice versa, especially H1N1, H5N1 and H7N9 influenzas.

This is the move after thousands of swiftlets died of H5N1 in the central province of Ninh Thuan this April.

The HCM City Agriculture and Rural Development Department is assigned to compile temporary regulations on the management and planning of swiftlet raising in the city to 2025. This is a new issue so the city will have to learn from the experience of other countries. Swiftlets will be initially raised in the district of Can Gio. The current swiftlet raising facilities are requested to relocate before 2015.

There are more than 300 swiftlet raising facilities in HCM City at present but only 10 in Can Gio District are licensed. The unlicensed facilities are mainly located in Districts of Nha Be, Thu Duc, Binh Chanh, Hoc Mon and 2, 7, 9, 12.

Xuan Hai