Before African Swine Fever outbreak, Vietnam imported thousands of tons of pork from Poland

	Control “strictly” smuggled pork and trade fraud
	Meat exports are still a difficult problem
	Vietnam-US address key pork trade issues

Illustrative photo. Source: Internet

According to recent information from the General Department of Vietnam Customs, in the first six months of 2018, Vietnam imported 19,581 tons of pork, with total import turnover of nearly $US 22.23 million.

Of which, Poland is the largest supplier with 7,035 tons, valuated at over $ US 8 million.

In 2017, Vietnam imported 33,115 tons of meat with total import turnover of nearly $US 40.2 million and Poland is also the number 1 importer with 10,029 tons.

In addition to Poland, Spain is also a large pork supplier to Vietnam with volume of 4,460 tons in the first 6 months of 2018, valuated at nearly $US 4.8 million. Last year, volume imported from this country was 7,728 tons.

Relating to the issue of African Swine Fever which is attracting the attention of domestic and international public, recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development decided to halt the import of pork and pork products originated from the provinces of Hungary and Poland where African Swine Fever has taken place from September 20 2018, until these two countries announce ASF safety as regulated by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

According to the OIE’s announcement on ASF in Hungary, from the beginning of 2018 to now, ASF has been reported in wild boars in Heves and Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg province, killing 17 and one was destroyed.

In Poland, from the beginning of 2018 up to now, 315 wild boars and 162 domesticated pigs out of 5,440 were infected in 5 provinces (Warminsko-Mazurskie, Podkarpackie, Podlaskie, Mazowieckie and Lubelskie).

Regarding the prevention of African swine fever spreading into Vietnam, the General Department of Vietnam Customs has just issued an official letter requesting the local customs departments to closely control the border gates, trails and border areas people and means of transport entering Vietnam from countries with ASF outbreaks.

Besides requesting localities to intensify close supervision at border gates and trails and tracks at border areas, the General Department of Vietnam Customs has also instructed to intensify the anti-smuggling and closely coordinate with the competent agencies and local governments’ in the prevention, investigation and handling of violations for the illegal transportation, smuggling of pigs and pig products.

Also, the General Department of Vietnam Customs has directed the implementation of customs procedures for imported pigs and pork products as follows:

Goods must be controlled at the first entry border gate; the procedures for Customs branch transfer or bringing goods to preservation places are not allowed.

At the same time, local customs departments only implement Customs clearance when goods have the quarantine certificate issued by the quarantine agencies. The time for temporary implementation is from the date of receiving this official letter until the new official letter is issued.

Not to carry out Customs procedures and notify relevant agencies for handling if detecting pigs and pork products that are smuggled, or suspected of smuggling, even donations and gifts from organizations, individuals and residents in the border areas.

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The General Department of Vietnam Customs has also requested local customs departments to report on situations and the handling results of infected imported pigs and pork products to the General Department.

According to information from some local customs departments in the border provinces adjacent to China (Lao Cai, Lang Son, Cao Bang, Quang Ninh, Ha Giang), currently, no cases of infected pigs have been detected. However, the departments have strengthened control measures to promptly prevent the outbreak of African Swine Fever in Vietnam.