THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Official Dispatch No. 79/BNN-HTQT dated January 08, 2013 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on permission for re- import of frozen white organ
To: Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai
On July 16, 2012, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development submitted Proposal No. 2156/TTr-BNN-HTQT together with Report No.2157/BNN-HTQT on consulting the Prime Minister about the re-import of white organs. After consideration, on August 30, 2012 the Government Office had answer in Dispatch No. 1345/VPCP-KTTH stating the guiding opinion of the Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai to assign the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to assume the prime responsibility and agree with the Ministry Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Finance to make a clear report to the Prime Minister on the management of imported frozen products under the direction of the Prime Minister at the Dispatches 1152/TTg-KTTH dated July 07, 2010 and 7080/VPCP-KTTH dated October 06, 2010.
Under the guidance above, after reviewing the situation of import and import control of frozen animal products, on November 20, 2012, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development held a meeting with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Finance to reach agreement in the report submitted to the Prime Minister with a number of specific contents as follows:
1. Situation of management of imported frozen flesh products:
After Vietnam has joined the World Trade Organization, the quantity of frozen cattle and poultry flesh imported into Vietnam has increased rapidly with variety of flesh including beef, buffalo, pork, poultry, goat, lamb, ... including nail rolls, chicken feet, ...
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has directed the implementation of measures to strictly manage the import. Through the examination of the veterinary authorities and other functional authorities, a lot of cases of violation have discovered such as: A lot of batches of cattle and poultry flesh of unknown origin, improper labeling, expired consumption but still consumed on the market; A lot of microbial contaminated batches in exceed of permissible limits, with many impurities, without veterinary hygiene had to be handled by destruction or re-production.
Before 2009, batches of frozen foods have been allowed the clearance in advance and then quarantine. A lot of cases after unsatisfactory quarantine results must be treated or re-exported but the owners have intentionally dispersed goods into market.
To strengthen the management of imported frozen products and ensure food safety for consumers, according to the direction of the Prime Minister at the Dispatch No. 1152/TTg-KTTH dated July 07, 2010, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has directed the Department of animal health, animal quarantine agencies at border gate to closely cooperate with customs authorities to strengthen the management and supervision over imported frozen animal products, only performing customs clearance for batches of imported frozen animal products after being issued certificate of import quarantine by the inspection and quarantine agencies.
