Agriculture minister explains new regulations to US firms

At the session, a representative from the US’s Cargill Corporation expressed concerns that the ban of the use of several kinds of antibiotics for growth stimulation in animal husbandry as specified in Circular 06/2016/TT-BNNPTNT is likely to hinder the growth of the sector.

Minister Cuong said the abuse of antibiotics in both human and livestock is posing a rising threat of drug resistance, hence the need for a legal framework to prevent it. He added that Vietnam will work with related firms in this matter, with a view to choosing a comprehensive solution for animal husbandry rather than using antibiotics.

Discussing the new regulation that requires the spraying of chemicals on distiller’s dried grains (DDGS) from the US before being exported to Vietnam as from April 2017, the minister said it is normal that the two sides proposed different chemicals to be used in the procedure.

He said he will direct the Plant Protection Department to work closely with related businesses to seek an effective solution accepted by both sides.

About the halted registration of imported plant protection drugs, especially those for rice, Cuong said Vietnam is shifting to eco-friendly fertilisers, particularly organic and micro-organic ones, together with technological application in production.

Vietnam pays attention to environment protection and needs to review such process for better control, he said.

The minister welcomed Microsoft’s intention to cooperate with the ministry’s Department of Science and Technology, especially amid the fourth industrial revolution in the world. He instructed the Department of Science and Technology and Department of International Cooperation to discuss the cooperation in details with the US group.

Michael Michalak, for his part, thanked Cuong for his response to the US businesses’ questions and proposals, noting that the best way to address the problems is to create a framework for Vietnamese and US experts to work together in handling them.