Many localities don't strictly implement the Prime Minister's instructions on combating smuggled poultry

Localities have not strictly implemented the Prime Minister's instructions

Recently, Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper published a series of investigative articles "Smuggled poultry breeds overturning the livestock industry". So, from the perspective of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, how do you assess the current situation of smuggling, transportation, and trading of poultry of unknown origin? And how harmful is it to our country's livestock industry, Deputy Minister?

The livestock industry contributes 26% of the total industry value, and in the past 10 years, the growth rate has been from 4.5 to approximately 6%. Livestock is also one of the very important pillars to contribute to implementing the Resolutions of the 12th and 13th Central Committee.

Second, the scale of our livestock industry is vast, with a total herd of 28.6 million pigs, about 5.6 million beef cattle, about 400,000 dairy cows, and about 550 million poultry in Vietnam.

However, we must see great difficulties and challenges. That is, Vietnam has a very long border, and for many years, diseases have mainly spread from the border. Typically, in 2003 and 2004, the bird flu epidemic occurred, more than 60 million poultry had to be destroyed, nearly 50 people died, and a loss of 0.5% of GDP.

If we cannot control smuggling, it will cause great pressure. Farmers must use quality breeds; Enterprises lose competitiveness and are damaged during breed use. Therefore, the Department of Animal Health advised the Ministry, and the Ministry advised the Prime Minister. On May 18, 2023, the Prime Minister issued Official Telegram No.426/CD-TTg directing provinces and centrally-run cities, ministries, and branches to focus on handling the smuggling of poultry and poultry products and strictly address violations.

In that situation, Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper had 6 investigative articles exposing smuggling rings in vast quantities and seeing the quality of poultry breeds when smuggled from China.

After the investigation by Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper, the Department of Animal Health proactively and promptly advised the Ministry and the Prime Minister. Accordingly, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development continues to have written instructions sent directly to the Chairman of the People's Committees of provinces and cities such as Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Bac Giang, Hanoi, and Hai Duong. Still, the involvement of the provinces is slow. Therefore, it affects the investment process of businesses, farms, and farmers.

Therefore, I suggest that in addition to the official dispatch sent to the provinces and the Provincial Presidents, the coordination between localities with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and other ministries and branches must ensure topicality and in the spirit of the direction in the Telegram No.426 of the Prime Minister.

Recently, reporters from Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper recorded many establishments selling and trading smuggled poultry with a transaction volume of tens of thousands of birds a day. So, in the context that Vietnam focuses on building disease-free livestock areas, aiming to export livestock products. Does the massive smuggling of poultry breeds from abroad into Vietnam damage the brand of Vietnamese agricultural products?

As we know, the export value of livestock products in the first 8 months of 2023 reached US$ 335 million, an increase of 26.1% over the same period in 2022. Businesses are also investing in large-scale livestock farming in a closed chain and are preparing to go into operation, targeting export markets.

In particular, our processed chicken products have been exported to the Japanese market and now to Korea, the United Kingdom, and Poland. If we want to export, according to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH, founded as OIE)) regulations, there must be a disease-free zone.

While we are trying our best to build disease-free zones according to the criteria of Europe and importing countries, illegally imported poultry breeds, without vaccination without disease-safe certification, are spreading into the country.

Smuggling of poultry breeds is rampant both by sea and by land

So, after a series of investigative articles by Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper, how has the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development coordinated with relevant units to promote solutions to prevent the smuggling of poultry breeds?

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Public Security Portal coordinate closely. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development also sent a document to the Environmental Crime Prevention Police Department (C05 - Ministry of Public Security Portal) to coordinate the investigation and handling of violations. 6 investigative articles (in the series "Smuggled poultry breeds overturning the livestock industry" of Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper) have clearly shown the addresses, units, and smuggling routes from China into our country.

Three years ago, the Ministry of Public Security conducted three criminal cases in Quang Ninh, and smuggling subsided. However, it has been hectic recently in many provinces and cities with lines both at sea and on land. We look forward to coordinating the Ministry of Public Security Portal, especially C05, to resolve the situation of smuggled poultry breeds fundamentally.

Yes, Deputy Minister, Vietnam has many well-invested poultry seed production facilities. Still, in the past 2 years, businesses and seed production facilities have often suffered losses. Seed prices are lower than production costs, causing businesses' motivation to be eliminated. So, is part of the reason due to the uncontrolled smuggling of breeds in recent times?

As we know, cattle and buffaloes are also affected by smuggled imports. Pigs are also smuggled in. Poultry are also smuggled in. A livestock industry under such pressure cannot improve its competitiveness. Illegally importing breeds not only directly affects the industry's competitiveness, but poor quality breeds also cause enormous consequences for households, farms, ranches, and businesses.

Fighting smuggling of poultry breeds is "An urgent, important task"

Is the massive smuggling of poultry breeds in recent times due to a part of the reason due to the indifference and lax management of the control, transportation, and buy and sell breeds of management of localities or not?

Recently, in a meeting with the Department of Animal Health and the Department of Livestock, I directed all units to actively and decisively participate in preventing the issue of smuggling of poultry breeds, and the Department of Animal Health has also taken the initiative. Advise the Ministry and the Prime Minister to issue guiding documents. This is an essential and urgent task. The veterinary system of provinces and cities, especially the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, must participate. There is no reason to smuggle such a large quantity through such a chain without knowing it.

Shortly, leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development may assign inspections to some facilities, contributing to repelling smuggling. Because we know, it's apparent. The newspaper has stated the route from where to get there, where to receive it, where to allocate it, and all the addresses and names. There is no reason why we should not organize the implementation and prevent and remove this smuggling situation.

Some localities complain that managing breeds' transportation and trading is challenging because current intra-provincial quarantine regulations have been abolished. How do you explain this issue?

I disagree with officials who give excuses when they have not completed their tasks or fulfilled their assigned responsibilities. Let's do our best for our cause. Let's be determined for the nation's benefit, people, and industry. Nothing is difficult. Nothing is impossible.

Shortly, we will strengthen the veterinary system and Veterinary Departments in the provinces. Today, we have to reaffirm again: Everyone in the village knows, no one knows anything. The problem is to ignore them or collude with them. We have to speak frankly to each other like that without any difficulty at all. As for all inappropriate legal documents, we will adjust them.

Thank you so much, Deputy Minister!