All of US imported chicken meat into Vietnam in first seven months was indicated up to seven months before expiry dates and certified by the US Department of Agriculture, said the Animal Health Department in its report to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development two days ago.
According to the Department, in the seven months, total of US imported frozen chicken into the country including cow, ox, sheep, pork and chicken increased by 24 percent compared to the same period last year or equivalent to 93,404 tons.
Of the amount, chicken meat was 45,651 tons and most of them was frozen chicken legs with 44,256 tons.
Deputy head of the Veterinary Department Dam Xuan Thanh refused the news that US imported chicken was near or exceed expiration dates. He confirmed all batches of US imported chicken meat defined seven months before expiration dates from the manufacturing dates on the lebels.
The leader of the Veterinary Department said that 85 percent of US imported chicken meat was imported through harbors in Ho Chi Minh City and 15 percent through harbors in the northern city of Hai Phong.
Veterinary units in border gates tightened control over imported meat and all US imported chicken meat must have clear indication of ỏigin, he said.
For the news that a bird flu outbreak had hit the U.S. since the end of last year and the meat imported to Vietnam had been contaminated with bird flu virus, the Veterinary Department said that the bird flu had occurred in the US in the end of April in only 13 over 50 states.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued a decision to ban importation of live chicken and chicken products from the disease-hit states of the US, yet importers can buy chicken meat from the other states.
Moreover, the US Department of Agriculture has not granted certificates of food safety for the meat in the disease affected areas and all batches of US chicken frozen meat into the country have certified by the US Department of Agriculture, added the Veterinary Department.
Additionally, local veterinary units also checked all batches of US imported frozen chicken meat in border gates. Test of all samples of US imported meat showed negative for bird flu viruses.
The public has raised concerns over the news relating to chicken meat from the US at throwaway prices for months. However the Animal Health Department submitted its reports to the Ministry, explaining the issue two days ago. So the public criticized the department irresponsible.
