The Vietnam Poultry Association (VIPA) has sent a formal dispatch to the prime minister and the National Assembly to propose measures to help deal with current difficulties of the domestic livestock industry.

According to VIPA, the illegal import of poultry products into Vietnam has remained complicated, particularly in the central and southern regions. Each month, tens of thousands of tonnes of low-cost chicken products are imported into Vietnam in this way.

The frozen chicken imported into Vietnam

In addition, a large number of cheap by-products of chicken such as legs, heads, necks and wings are also brought into Vietnam from abroad.

This also poses the risk of highly toxic strains of avian influenza viruses and other dangerous infectious diseases entering the country.

Over the past five years, imported chicken products account for 20-25 percent of Vietnam’s total chicken product consumption.

The VIPA said that Vietnam’s regulations on livestock product imports remain unclear. Since 2014, the use of such chemicals as Ractopamine and Cysteamine to add extra lean muscle for livestock has been banned in 160 nations, including Vietnam because ofits health risks. However, every year, Vietnam still imports a large amount of pork, chicken and beef from some countries allowing the use of Ractopamine and Cysteamine.

This has resulted in unfair competition for domestic poultry products. Many domestic poultry sellers even face a high risk of bankruptcy due to long-lasting losses.

Nguyen Xuan Duong, chairman of the Vietnam Poultry Association said that imported poultry products are sold at low-cost prices. Many schools, hospitals and industrial parks use this kind of products for meals.

The Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry and related ministries, state agencies should urgently apply non-tax measures to protect both the domestic livestock industry and the health of Vietnamese consumers, Duong suggested.

Source: Dtinews