The Regional Animal Health Office No 6 of Ho Chi Minh City has moved to intensify checks placed on imported pork as they come into the city’s ports in terms of their veterinary hygiene and safety.

According to regulations issued by the Regional Department of Animal Health Office No 6, there must be strict controls placed on imported pork with checks on their certifications regarding food safety and hygiene by local authorities.

Bach Duc Luu, Deputy Director of Department of Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said veterinary workers must move to strengthen inspections placed on imported pork as a result of the large quantity coming into the country.

100 per cent of imported meat shipments should be placed outside the port in order to wait for samples to be examined to make sure they fall in line with regulations.

If the meat shipments fail to meet the quality standards set on imported products, they will be handled according to regulations, Luu noted.

Last year, businesses in Ho Chi Minh City were able to import approximately 16,000 tonnes of pork with a value of US$33 million through the ports, an increase of over 150 per cent in comparison to 2018.

Most notably, the amount of imported pork hit roughly 3,000 tonnes before the Lunar New Year, with the main import markets being Brazil and the United States.