The Prime Minister requests to prevent and strictly handle pig smuggling into Vietnam

In the Official Letter signed on August 1, 2023, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested the Chairman of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities and the Ministers (Agriculture and Rural Development, National Defense, Public Security, Finance, and Public Trade, Information and Communication) and the National Steering Committee against Smuggling, Commercial Fraud and Counterfeit Goods (National Steering Committee 389), proactively directing and drastically implementing solutions to prevent and detect develop counterfeit goods and strictly handle cases of illegal trade and transportation of pigs across the border into Vietnam.

In particular, the Chairman of the People's Committees of the provinces and centrally-run cities, especially the southwestern border provinces, has strengthened inspection, supervision, and control, especially at border gates, trails and regional openings, seaports, rivers, etc, prevent, detect and strictly handle cases of illegal trade and transportation of pigs across the border into Vietnam. In the case of detecting illegally imported pigs, they must be re-exported or destroyed immediately and strictly handled by organizations and individuals that commit violations.

Directing police forces, border guards, customs, and 389 steering committees of localities to strengthen measures to fight and prevent acts of transporting and trading smuggled pigs across the border. Coordinate with local authorities to promptly arrest and strictly handle cases of illegal import of pigs.

Directing authorities at all levels to organize statistics and control of local pig herds, especially in localities sharing borders with other countries, to promptly detect fluctuations and increase in the number of spikes due to collaboration and legalization of the origin of smuggled or transported pigs; legalize, forge, contravene regulations on import quarantine and animal transport quarantine.

Direct and assign local forces to closely inspect and supervise cattle collection and slaughter establishments, especially those adjacent to the border. Strengthen inspection and traceability for the transportation of pigs for consumption in the province. Timely detection and strict handling of law violations. Establishing working groups to inspect and urge the control and prevention of the illegal transportation and trade of pigs into Vietnam.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development directs veterinary specialized agencies to strengthen the quarantine of animals and animal products following the law to handle violations strictly.

Strengthen proactive surveillance and early detection of African Swine Fever outbreaks, Foot-and-mouth Disease, Green Ear, and emerging diseases at risk of entering Vietnam.

Directing and guiding localities and enterprises to focus on successfully building epidemic-free areas and facilities to serve export. Coordinate with localities and relevant ministries and branches to promptly detect and strictly handle cases of illegally transporting pigs across the border into Vietnam.

The Ministry of National Defense directs the Border Guard Force to closely coordinate with functional units of ministries, branches, and local authorities to prevent pig smuggling on border lines, border gates, trails, and open entrances.

Directing and guiding units to organize information and propaganda to raise people's awareness in border areas in epidemic prevention and control, trade fraud, and illegal cross-border pig transport, support the destruction when many pigs must be destroyed to prevent the spread of disease.

The Ministry of Public Security directs police units and localities to coordinate with functional forces of the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and local authorities in preventing the smuggling of pigs on border routes, border gates, trails, openings, and sea routes. Review and strictly handle violations of the law. Set up a project to combat illegal cross-border trafficking and transportation, legalizing the origin of animals and animal products, and animal quarantine papers.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade directs the market management force to strengthen measures to control market circulation and promptly detect and strictly handle cases of illegal transportation, trading, and transportation of pigs into Vietnam, illegally trading pigs of unknown origin in the market.

The Ministry of Information and Communications, Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam Television, Vietnam News Agency, People's Newspaper, and other press and media agencies strengthen communication work on the harms and effects of the import of pigs across the border and the risk of dangerous diseases imported from abroad through illegal transportation, trading and consumption of animals and animal products.

The National Steering Committee 389 directs and implements measures to prevent, promptly detect and strictly handle cases of pig smuggling, illegal transportation, and trading of animals and animal products, especially pigs in and out of Vietnam. Closely coordinate and proactively share information and data with veterinary agencies at all levels and implement measures to prevent and control animal diseases by current laws.

According to their assigned functions and tasks, the relevant ministries and branches actively direct specialized functional agencies to coordinate to implement drastic measures to prevent illegal cross-border pig transport into Vietnam.

The Government Office shall monitor and urge relevant ministries, agencies, and localities to implement this Official Dispatch and promptly report any problems and difficulties in the implementation process to the Prime Minister.