VietNamNet Bridge – Expensive Kobe beef sold in Viet Nam was either illegally imported or not the real deal, director of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's Animal Health Department Hoang Van Nam has said.

He affirmed that as of now, Viet Nam had not allowed the importation of Japanese beef.

Nam said the main reason was because Japan and Viet Nam hadn't signed any veterinary agreement in respect of beef trading, which is a prerequisite for veterinary permits and import licences.

Another reason was that the department had not received any request from domestic companies regarding the importation of Japanese beef and thus couldn't estimate demand.

"If we can confirm that consumer demand is high and Kobe beef meets the hygiene standards, we will quickly boost the process to secure the veterinary agreement between both countries and start importing this product," Nam said.

Speaking to Viet Nam News yesterday, deputy director of Ha Noi's Department of Industry and Trade's Market Watch Nguyen Dac Loc said under current regulations any animal product unaccompanied by veterinary permits should be destroyed.

"So anyone who claims to sell Kobe beef is likely to have their products destroyed because it has not yet been granted a veterinary permit," he said.

Kobe beef, one of the most expensive meats in the culinary world, is said to have appeared in some fine dining restaurants in Ha Noi and HCM City for more than a year. The price of one kilogram of Kobe beef may be up to 4 million (US$200).

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News