The association has sent a petition to the PM, the National Assembly Standing Committee and seven relevant ministries, asking to urgently apply solutions to save poultry farmers from danger.

Because of the negative impact of Covid-19, a sharp increase in input costs, instability of the market, and sharp drop in product prices, farming companies and households are facing difficulties. 

At some times, poultry selling prices are just equal to two-thirds of production costs.

Many livestock companies and poultry farms are in danger of going bankrupt, and thousands of fowl raising facilities have had to scale down production or suspend production because of big losses.

VIPA stressed that it is necessary to intensify inspection and control of the import of poultry and poultry-made products at border gates, trails, border areas and seaports. 

VIPA estimated that tens of thousands of live laying chicken culls are imported to Vietnam each month. This is one of the reasons behind the increased risk of disease in the domestic poultry industry.

Cheap frozen animal husbandry by-products are also imported to Vietnam in large quantities. If imports cannot be controlled, this will not only affect domestic poultry production, but also harm the health of consumers.

VIPA has also asked to strengthen non-tariff measures in order to restrict the excess of imports over exports of poultry products to protect domestic production.

Experts point out that Vietnam’s technical requirements on livestock imports are not clear and not strict enough compared with countries with developed livestock industries. 

Since 2014, Ractopamine and Cysteamine have been prohibited in 160 countries and in Vietnam because they may cause cancer to users. However, Vietnam still imports large amounts of pork, beef and chicken from countries which use the two substances for cattle and poultry.

Meanwhile, to be eligible for exporting livestock products, Vietnamese firms have to satisfy technical requirements set by importing countries.

To create an environment with healthy competition and fair for all enterprises and households, prevent bad influences to consumers’ health, VIPA has asked the government to promulgate legal documents on prohibiting meat imports from the countries, which use the growth stimulants of Ractopamine and Cysteamine.

The association has proposed cutting some quarantine fees and unnecessary administrative procedures to cut production costs. The customers who just order 5-10 kilograms of meat now have to pay the fees equal to the ones who buy a consignment of products (VND100,000).

Tam An