Authorities are set to intensify checks on animal feed producers andtraders and pig farmers and slaughter houses around the country, anofficial from the Animal Husbandry Department told an April 24conference in HCM City.
They would focus on small andmedium-sized production establishments and those without a clear placeof origin, said Chu Dinh Khu, head of the department's Animal FeedDivision.
It was aimed at improving the quality and safety offeed, and anyone found adding banned substances to animal feed or givingit to animals would be severely penalised.
Last year aninspection of 88 animal feed manufacturers, 71 feed distributors, 256pig farms, 33 pig slaughterhouses and 14 pork trading establishments hadfound the use of banned substances in animal feed production and animalbreeding continuing in many places, especially at times when porkprices surge.
Of 329 feed samples collected, 14 percent hadviolated quality and safety norms and 5.2 percent tested positive forbanned substances.
Besides, almost 4 percent of 311 pig urinesamples had tested positive for harmful substances while 17.7 percent of346 samples of pork meat, liver and kidneys contained antibioticresidues.
Last year individuals and organisations had been fined a total of 545.55 million VND (25,303 USD) for violations.
Thecountry had produced 14.46 million tonnes of feed last year, butimported 11 million tonnes of raw materials for it, mainly protein andenergy-rich materials and additives.
All the imports had been checked and the incidence of violations was well down from previous years.
Delegatesat the conference, while complaining that a shortage of staff made ithard to oversee the industry, agreed that intensifying checks of feedproduction and animal husbandry establishments was essential.
PhanMinh Bau, deputy director of the Dong Nai Province Department ofAgriculture and Rural Development, proposed more severe penalties todeter repeat violations.
The country has 203 feed producers,of which 61 are foreign-invested or joint ventures accounting for overhalf the market share.-VNA
They would focus on small andmedium-sized production establishments and those without a clear placeof origin, said Chu Dinh Khu, head of the department's Animal FeedDivision.
It was aimed at improving the quality and safety offeed, and anyone found adding banned substances to animal feed or givingit to animals would be severely penalised.
Last year aninspection of 88 animal feed manufacturers, 71 feed distributors, 256pig farms, 33 pig slaughterhouses and 14 pork trading establishments hadfound the use of banned substances in animal feed production and animalbreeding continuing in many places, especially at times when porkprices surge.
Of 329 feed samples collected, 14 percent hadviolated quality and safety norms and 5.2 percent tested positive forbanned substances.
Besides, almost 4 percent of 311 pig urinesamples had tested positive for harmful substances while 17.7 percent of346 samples of pork meat, liver and kidneys contained antibioticresidues.
Last year individuals and organisations had been fined a total of 545.55 million VND (25,303 USD) for violations.
Thecountry had produced 14.46 million tonnes of feed last year, butimported 11 million tonnes of raw materials for it, mainly protein andenergy-rich materials and additives.
All the imports had been checked and the incidence of violations was well down from previous years.
Delegatesat the conference, while complaining that a shortage of staff made ithard to oversee the industry, agreed that intensifying checks of feedproduction and animal husbandry establishments was essential.
PhanMinh Bau, deputy director of the Dong Nai Province Department ofAgriculture and Rural Development, proposed more severe penalties todeter repeat violations.
The country has 203 feed producers,of which 61 are foreign-invested or joint ventures accounting for overhalf the market share.-VNA
