Pig importers are facing fines for failing to transport imported pigs to the quarantine and testing sites or even transporting imported pigs to quarantine and testing sites in an insufficient quantity across the Lao Bao International Border Gate (Quang Tri).

Pig imported across Lao Bao International Border Gate, Quang Tri.
Photo: Lao Bao Border Gate Customs Branch

More than 8,000 imported pigs in 10 declarations

Some 8,000 pigs stated in 10 declarations of three importers are being verified by Lao Bao International Border Gate (under Quang Tri Customs Department). Those importers are Tan Trieu T&P One Member Company Limited (importing 2,000 pigs in two declarations); Hiep Hoang Phat Construction and Trading Company Limited (importing 5,103 pigs in seven declaration); Dai Phong Investment and Trading Company Limited (importing 900 pigs in one declaration).

According to the decision on sanctioning of administrative violations issued by the Department of Animal Health, these importers have committed violationsbytransporting an insufficient quantity of imported pigs to the quarantine and testing sites and failing to transportimported pigs to the quarantine siteas required.

On February 9, Lao Bao International Border Gate Customs Branch received adispatch from Region 1 Branch of Animal Health on providing information on live pigs imported from Thailand to Vietnam by Tan Trieu T&P One Member Company Limited.

The dispatch said that Tan Trieu T&P One Member Company Limited transported an insufficient quantity of imported pigs stated in declaration No. 103792390441/A11 dated January 18, 2021 to quarantine and testing sites (only 507 of 900 pigs were transported to the sites). The Department of Animal Health issued Decision No.28/QD-XPVPHC dated January 29, 2021 on the sanctioning of administrative violations against the company.

Then, Tan Trieu T&P One Member Company Limited did not transport 1,100 imported pigs as stated in Declaration No.103797730522/A11 dated January 20, 2021 to the quarantine site. The Department of Animal Health issued a decision No.29/QD-XPVPHC dated January 29, 2021 on administrative violations against the company. A total of1,493 pigs under the two declarations werenot transported to the quarantine site.

Five of seven declarations of Hiep Hoang Phat Construction and Trading Company Limited violated rules on transporting insufficient quantity of imported pigs (3,587 pigs) to the quarantine and testing sites andtwo declarations violated on failing to transport imported pigs (898 pigs) to the quarantine site.

Hiep Hoang Phat Construction and Trading Company Limited transported an insufficient quantity of imported pigs in Declaration No. 103800970821/A11 dated January 21 to the quarantine and testing sites (only 160 of the 1,400 pigs were transported to the site). The Department of Animal Health issued Decision No.24/QD-XPVPHC dated January 27, 2021 on the sanctioning of administrative violations against the company.

Earlier, the Department of Animal Health issued Decision No.14/QĐ-XPVPHC dated January 22 on the sanctioning of administrative violations against the company for transporting am insuficient quantity of imported pigs as stated in Declaration No. 103789678201/A11 dated January 16 to quarantine and testing sites.

Suspend transportation of goods to storage

Due to the complexdevelopment of the Covid-19 pandemic nationwide, especially in the northern provinces, the Lao Bao International Border Gate Customs Branch has suffered from difficulties in working with domestic Animal Health offices, enterprises and quarantine areas. The branch senta written request to the Regional Animal Health offices to provide information andinvitedrepresentatives to work. Currently, the Lao Bao Border Gate Customs Branch is urgently implementing measures to verify the problems related to the consignments.

In addition, the branch has worked with Lao Bao Animal Quarantine Station to understand problems related to quarantine procedures for imported animals and clarify problems related to consignments showing violation signs.

After investigation, the branch made a report on administrative violations against the above firms. It also proposed Quang Tri Customs Department suspend transportation of goods to storage for these companies from six months to one year.

Lao Bao International Border Gate Customs Branch is continuing to investigate and verify at relevant organisations and individuals, according to sources from Customs News.

Fines worth from VND 6 to 9 billion may be imposed

Regarding the pig imports, Cha Lo Border Gate Customs Branch (under Quang Binh Customs Branch) issued a decision prosecuting a criminal case against Bac-Trung-Nam Investment Consultations and Development Company Limited (in Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi) for voluntarily consuming 400 imported pigs, subject to specialised inspection, and transferred the case file to the Investigation Police Office, Minh Hoa District Police.

The above act of the Bac-Trung-Nam Investment Consultations and Development Company Limited has signs of trading banned goods as prescribed in Article 190 of the Penal Code.

According to Article 190 of the Penal Code, the company may be fined worth from VND 6 billion to VND 9 billion or suspended fromoperation from six months to three years.