4 associations recommend controlling the import of livestock products

4 associations including: Animal Husbandry Association Of Vietnam, Vietnam Animal Feed Association, Vietnam Large Cattle Breeding Association, Vietnam Poultry Breeding Association, proposed to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Chairman National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue the shortcomings and solutions to overcome difficulties in the livestock industry.

In the proposal, leaders of four major associations in the livestock industry proposed measures to strictly control the massive import of livestock products from abroad to Vietnam to protect domestic production. The reason is that Vietnam's current regulations on importing livestock products still have many loopholes.

The risk of Vietnam being a "super importer" country

In 2023, the import turnover of livestock products was US$ 3.53 billion, while exports only reached US$ 515,000. In addition to official imports, a large volume of livestock products were imported illegally (smuggled). According to reports from authorities and media, in 2023 and the first weeks of 2024, 6,000 - 8,000 pigs (weight 100 - 120 kg/head) are smuggled into Vietnam every day, not to mention a large number of buffaloes, cows, discarded chickens, chicken breeds...

Massively importing livestock products into Vietnam is a serious problem, causing many risks, consequences, and the spread of diseases, especially dangerous diseases such as African swine fever and avian flu and lumpy dermatitis on cattle...

Representatives of 4 livestock associations and associations affirmed that imported livestock products are causing unfair competitive pressure with domestic livestock products. Because livestock products currently imported through official quotas are mostly secondary products that are rarely used as food in other countries, such as heads, wings, hearts, kidneys, gizzards, laying hens and waste dairy cows. Not to mention that these are almost expired foods, so they are very cheap, only 50% of the price of domestic products when imported.

In addition, imported livestock products pose a major risk to food quality and safety for consumers, especially in collective kitchen areas for students, workers, etc., users of most of these imported frozen foods.

According to representatives of associations, massively imported livestock products are losing investment opportunities and motivation for domestic businesses and livestock farmers, which will directly affect the problem in national food security.

According to representatives of associations and societies, with the current import rate, in just 3-5 years, Vietnam will become a super importer of livestock products. Therefore, the State needs policies and time for domestic livestock farmers and businesses to adapt.

Building technical barriers, banning small-scale imports

Recommendation from the presidents of 4 associations to the Prime Minister to direct the National Steering Committee to prevent smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods and the ministries: Agriculture and Rural Development; Industry and Trade; Science and Technology; Police; The military has strengthened inspection measures and strictly controlled the import of livestock products.

Regarding official imports, four associations and associations recommend urgently building technical barriers and trade policies to minimize official imports of livestock products.

Among them are the issues of strengthening quarantine measures, quality inspection, and minimizing the number of border gates allowed to import live livestock into Vietnam, as is typically experienced by countries such as America, China, Thailand, Japan, Korea... have done it very effectively.

Specifically, these countries have requirements for cold heat treatment with complex technology and high costs, or on average, each country only allows 3-5 border gates by land, sea, and air to import live livestock. Meanwhile, Vietnam has over 30 border gates of all kinds that are allowed to import live livestock.

It can be said that compared to countries with developed livestock farming, our country's regulations on importing livestock products are not strict and have many loopholes. Meanwhile, we must endure many strict technical barriers in importing countries to export poultry meat and eggs, making our livestock products weak and disadvantaged.

Representatives of 4 associations proposed to ban all forms of unofficial import and use of imported livestock and livestock products in this form.

Because currently, domestic livestock production basically meets domestic consumption needs. In addition, Vietnam has a long border and the surrounding countries do not have good veterinary work and disease control. Without drastic measures to control the issue of smuggled livestock and livestock products, Vietnam cannot control epidemics and domestic livestock production, as the experiences of China and Thailand have done successfully.