Nguyen Van Long, Director of the ministry’s Department of Animal Health, said that the animal farming industry of Vietnam has expanded strongly in recent years, but the export of husbandry products remains modest. Long cited statistics that the export of husbandry products was at around 400 million USD in 2022.
Some units of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development hold an online talk to disseminate information on new regulations on veterinary medicines (Photo: VietnamPlus)
To increase the export of animal husbandry products, Long said it is necessary to ensure hygiene and disease-free zones in animal farming.
Vietnam has signed 17 free trade agreements which required the amendments of corresponding regulations following international commitments, he said, adding that the Department of Animal Health has made a comprehensive review of relevant legal documents with a view to aligning them with international regulations. The department has also worked to streamline administrative procedures to facilitate production and trade in the field.
The official noted that as part of the effort, in late July, the Government approved a national plan to strengthen capacity for disease control and ensure food safety of food products with animal origin for the 2023-30 period.
The agriculture ministry also issued Circular No 24/2022, amending Circular No 14/2017 about regulations on disease-free animal zones.
Long said that the provisions of Circular 24 basically meet the requirements of the World Organisation for Animal Health with an aim to lead Vietnam’s livestock industry to approach global standards.
The animal farming industry of Vietnam has expanded strongly in recent years, but the export of husbandry products remains modest (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Nguyen Ngoc Tien from the department said that establishments certified as disease-free zones would get many benefits, including priority in choosing breeds, animals and animal products. In addition, animal products originating from certified establishments would get a quarantine certificate within just one day after registration.
There were about 2,230 establishments in 55 provinces and cities certified disease-free in Vietnam to date.
On July 25, the Prime Minister promulgated Decision No. 889/QD-TTg approving a national plan to strengthen the capacity of animal disease control and the management of food safety of food products with animal origin in the 2023-2030 period.
Under the decision, Vietnam is set to establish 19 disease-free zones for animal breeding by 2025 in line with domestic standards, including four zones in southern Binh Phuoc province and one in nearby Tay Ninh province satisfying standards set by the World Organization for Animal Health. It is expected that eight disease-free zones will be established in Binh Duong, Tay Ninh, and nearby Dong Nai provinces by 2030./.
