Vietnam Stops Fowl Imports over Fear of Bird Flu Return

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has decided to set a temporary ban on importing fowls and ornamental birds from tomorrow to the end of March 2006, aiming to minimize the risk of bird flu epidemic spreading from other countries.

 

The ministry also requires its veterinary departments to closely coordinate with relevant agencies to further monitor the transportation of unclearly-originated live cattle, poultry, and other meat products.

 

All poultry traders, slaughters, and raisers must have got quarantine licenses provided by the local veterinary departments, Deputy Minister Bui Ba Bong said.

 

In the same move, the Prime Minister has released a decree to penalize those who violate veterinary regulations.

 

Accordingly, those who raise or sell infectious animals, including poultry, will be fined VND3-5 million (around $190-316), while Cattlemen will be fined VND50,000-200,000 if they do not have their animals vaccinated and up to VND800,000 if they use disease-infected animals to breed. If they throw away dead animals carelessly in the surrounding areas, they will be fined VND1-1.5 million.

 

Vietnam is now calling for a concerted effort in the fight against another possible bird flu outbreak, Bong said, adding that the country will need a total expense of VND6,870 billion ($434.8 million) to deal with the bird flu virus when a pandemic occurs. 

 

Cities and provinces nationwide have culled as many as 60 million fowls since bird flu began ravaging the country in late 2003 while vaccinating around 48.4 million poultry and ducks against bird flu.