VietNamNet Bridge – Lawmakers agreed that a new law on plant quarantine and protection would protect domestic production and help improve their quality at a meeting of the 17th session of the National Assembly Standing Committee yesterday, April 10.

Fruit imported through the Tan Thanh border gate in northern Lang Son Province is tested for levels of pesticide. Lawmakers recommend strict laws on aquaculture and agriculture quarantine procedures. 

The country currently lacks strict regulations on how aquaculture and agriculture products for export should be quarantined, which could make them less competitive in the global market, according to a Government report.

There are also no regulations on how and when an epidemic should be announced.

Many deputies said that the chairman of a province or city where there was a plant epidemic should be the one to announce it.

In case an epidemic occurred in more than one province or a strange plant-damaging microorganism was found, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development would be in charge of making the situation public.

Chairman of the NA Finance and State Budget Committee Phung Quoc Hien said that the law should regulate those using pesticides as well as pesticide producers, traders and importers.

"The current regulations on pesticide management are not strict enough, causing many serious consequences. Any law on plant quarantine and protection should address that situation," said Hien.

Hien added that the law should also regulate how financial resources would be mobilised to deal with the situation when an epidemic occurred.

In the view of NA Vice Chairman Tong Thi Phong, the law should encourage scientific research and international co-operation when it came to publishing warnings about plant epidemics as well as epidemics threatening animals and humans.

Some deputies also suggested that the law should regulate the agriculture and rural development ministry's responsibilities as well as those of relevant ministries, provinces and sectors.

Source: VNS