Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan Friday led an inspection team to oversee all operations in place to prevent smuggled chickens from being sold at the Ha Vy wholesale market in Thuong Tin District in Hanoi, the largest chicken outlet in the northern region.
Cao Duc Phat, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and Nguyen Khac Dinh, deputy chairman of the Government Office were also present.
This move was aimed to prevent the dreaded H7N9 virus from entering the country from China via smuggled poultry.
According to the management board of Ha Vy Market, the market receives about 30-40 tons of chickens every night, which are currently being thoroughly monitored and controlled, with checks being made of all markings of origin.
Since April 16, authorities have tightened control and supervision of incoming poultry to prevent the spread of Avian Flu. All the 16 traders found with tens of tons of ‘waste chicken’ from China have been penalized and barred from selling. ‘Waste chicken’ are aged hens that no longer lay eggs.
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan said that Hanoi is the main and biggest chicken consumption market in the northern region. Therefore, more vigilance is required and relevant departments must intensify checks, supervision, and control to prevent illicit trading of chickens, particularly as fears of spread of the new strain of Avian Flu looms large.
The smuggling of ‘waste chicken’ has for now been taken care of, but with traders resorting to all kinds of tricks to sell this product, constant supervision is required. For instance, smugglers often slaughter chickens right at border crossings before transporting to domestic markets.
The Government will hold responsible leaders of the northern border provinces if any chicken smuggling case is uncovered in their area.
Minister Cao Duc Phat said that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will tighten quarantine measures all across the country.
In related news, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on April 26 said they have instructed the People’s Committee in the south-central province of Ninh Thuan to propose measures for consideration to assist residents who have suffered damages from sick house-bred swifts.
The Ministry also asked local authorities to immediately destroy swifts infected with the Avian Flu virus and sterilize all bird breeding areas.
The People’s Committee in Ninh Thuan Province has instructed relevant organs to maintain supervision of the swift flocks to timely uncover any sick bird.
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