Illustrative image (Source: VNA)The country exported 2,150 tonnes of meat andrelated products worth 6.95 million USD in April, up 27.1 percent in volume and3.7 percent in value compared to March, with Hong Kong (China), mainland China,and Thailand among the main destinations, data from the General Department ofVietnam Customs shows.
The Cong Thuong (Industry & Trade) newspapercited Nguyen Van Long, Deputy Director of the Department of Animal Health at theMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Development, as saying that Vietnam must complywith international regulations to export animal products, including those setby the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the OIE.
In particular, exports of animals and relatedproducts can only come from countries and territories that have farmingestablishments and zones free of disease and ensure biological safety.
As of May, Vietnam had 2,288 closed farmingestablishments and zones but these only satisfy Vietnamese standards, with nonemeeting OIE requirements, Long pointed out.
He added that as outbreaks of dangerous diseaseare spreading, many countries have set up strict requirements on imported freshproducts. Meanwhile, Vietnam faces certain difficulties in organising safeanimal farming, especially in terms of disease control, monitoring of farmingzones, and grassroots safety chains.
In the recent past, authorities have stepped upnegotiations on animal product exports with some countries, Long said, notingthat to secure smooth exports the most important issue now is that such productshail from disease-free zones meeting OIE rules.
To do this, it is firstly necessary to exertsound control over disease outbreaks and minimise the risk from animal diseasenationwide. A national programme for monitoring and certifying animal productsshould also be carried out to pave the way for exporting qualified products, hesaid.
There are 15 disease-free zones around thecountry at present, and coordination with localities is needed to help such zonesunder Vietnamese standards meet OIE requirements.
Long recommended that cities and provinces deviseplans to form and maintain disease-free animal farming zones while payingattention to animal husbandry./.
VNA
