3:43:13 PM | 16/7/2009
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the Ministry of Health (MoH) are jointly setting up safety and hygiene standards for imported meats and internal organs, said Bui Quang Anh, the head of MARD’s Animal Health Department.
The move will serve as a technical barrier to limit imports of meats and animal viscera, said Anh.
In the cities of HCM City, Hanoi and Haiphong, animal innards and meats were being imported in massive quantities.
Recently, the HCM City Department of Animal Health seized more than eight tons of rotten chicken wings, suspected of being mixed with toxic chemicals, belonging to Truc Den Co Ltd in district 8.
The confiscated goods were among 13.5 tons of chicken wings belonging to the company that were reportedly contaminated with coliform bacteria, which could cause acute diarrhea, according to health inspectors.
The department reported that the company had already sold five tons of chicken wings from the contaminated batch.
However, because there were no specific regulations on which or how many chemicals could be used on imported meats and animal viscera, the relevant authorities lacked legal documents to punish the violators, said Anh.
According to the new standards, processing methods, chemical quantities, hygiene standards and inspection procedures would all be regulated, said Anh.
Specific administrative punishments for violators will be regulated in the draft law of Animal Health, which will be submitted to the Government by the end of this year, said Anh. (VNA)
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