The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in cooperation with the Ministry of Health is setting up safety and hygiene standards for imported meats and viscera, said Bui Quang Anh, the head of MARD’s Animal Health Department.

This would serve as a technical barrier to limit imports of meats and animal viscera, said Anh.

In big cities like HCM City , Hanoi and Hai Phong, animal viscera and meats were being imported in massive quantities, and there were risks involved with this practice. One example was when more than 8 tonnes of substandard chicken wings belonging to Truc Den Co Ltd in district 8 were seized by the HCM City Department of Animal Health.

The confiscated goods were among 13.5 tonnes of chicken wings belonging to the company that were reportedly contaminated with coliform bacteria, which could cause acute diarrhea, according to health inspectors.

It was reported that the company had already sold 5 tonnes of chicken wings from the contaminated batch.

It was reported that the company had already sold 5 tonnes of chicken wings from the contaminated batch.

However, because there were no specific regulations on which or how many chemicals could be used on imported meats and animal viscera, the relevant authorities lacked legal documents to punish violators, said Anh.

According to the new standards, processing methods, chemical quantities, hygiene standards and inspection procedures would all be regulated, said Anh.

Specific administrative punishments for violators would be regulated in the draft law of Animal Health, which would be submitted to the Government by the end of this year, said Anh./.