Proactively prevent and combat smuggling of pigs and pork products from afar

The provincial People's Committee has just issued an official dispatch directing departments, branches and localities to prevent, detect and strictly handle cases of illegal trading and transportation of pigs across the border into Vietnam. As the standing agency of the Provincial Steering Committee for Combating Smuggling, Trade Fraud and Counterfeit Goods (SC 389/DP), the Provincial Market Management Department has proactively implemented many measures to prevent and is determined to maintain market stability. To better understand these activities, Thai Binh Newspaper reporters had an interview with Mr. Nguyen Van Nghien, Director of the Provincial Market Management Department.

Thai Binh city market management force inspects pork trading activities at De Tham market.

Reporter: Recently, the illegal trade and transportation of pigs and pork products into Vietnam, especially from Cambodia, has been complicated in many localities across the country. Could you tell us what the current situation is in Thai Binh?

Mr. Nguyen Van Nghien: Currently, there are nearly 2,400 farms and livestock farms in the province, including nearly 1,400 pig farms and an estimated 250,000 households; 6 centralized slaughterhouses, about 1,700 small-scale slaughterhouses and thousands of establishments and households trading in pork. Therefore, it can be said that the supply of pigs and pork products is always balanced to meet the consumption needs of the people; the market price of pigs and pork products is also relatively stable. Through monitoring and grasping the area, most establishments and households engaged in pig slaughtering basically buy pigs from farms and livestock farms in the province and some neighboring provinces. There has been no sudden increase in the transportation of pigs and pork products in the area, all goods have clear origins and have animal quarantine certificates according to regulations.

Reporter: Could you please tell us your opinion about the concerns of both farmers and consumers about the illegal buying and transport of pigs into the province and the risk of disease outbreaks for livestock and food safety issues?

Mr. Nguyen Van Nghien: Those concerns of the people are completely justified. As soon as there was a situation of illegal trading and transportation of pigs across the border into Vietnam in some provinces and cities, the Prime Minister issued a telegram directing the fight and immediate prevention because it affects production, while increasing the risk of infection and spread of dangerous diseases in domestic pigs. Smuggled pigs of unknown origin, possibly fed with products banned for use in livestock farming, not ensuring veterinary hygiene and food safety requirements, are at risk of seriously affecting the domestic livestock industry and people's health. Compared to domestic goods with clear origins, smuggled goods are generally cheap, unfairly competitive, causing market instability. Therefore, the Provincial Market Management Department identified the work of combating smuggling and illegal transportation of pigs and pork products into the province as a key task in the inspection, control and handling work of the force from now until the Lunar New Year of Giap Thin 2024.

Reporter: Smuggling subjects have behaviors and tricks to evade the law and the management and control of authorities. To effectively combat this type of crime, as the standing agency of the Provincial Steering Committee 389/DP, what solutions has the Provincial Market Management Department come up with and how has it implemented it?

Mr. Nguyen Van Nghien: Immediately after receiving the directives from the Government, National Steering Committee 389, Ministry of Industry and Trade , General Department of Market Management, Provincial People's Committee and Provincial Steering Committee 389/DP on the fight against illegal trading and transportation of pigs and pork products across the border into Vietnam, the Provincial Market Management Department has thoroughly grasped and deployed tasks to cadres, civil servants and employees in the unit; at the same time, developed plans and directed market management teams to strengthen inspection and handling of violations in illegal trading and transportation of pigs and pork products. In particular, the unit directed Market Management Team No. 1 (Anti-smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods team) to strengthen control measures on circulation at key traffic routes, promptly detect and strictly handle violations of trading of animals and pigs without quarantine and of unknown origin in the market. Market management teams of districts and cities focus on managing and monitoring the area, firmly grasping slaughterhouses, trading and transporting pigs and pork products. Market management forces closely coordinate with member sectors of Steering Committee 389/DP to organize inspections, checks and control of transportation, circulation and business activities. The Department also directs to promote propaganda to raise awareness and compliance with the law among people and businesses; organize the signing of commitments with businesses, slaughterhouses and trading establishments not to violate, not to assist in illegally buying, selling and transporting pigs and pork products. On the basis of closely following the supply and demand of goods, forecasting the market situation, the Provincial Market Management Department has appropriate management solutions and advises the Provincial People's Committee, Steering Committee 389/DP to direct the effective fight against smuggling and trade fraud, determined not to let the market in the last months of the year be disrupted, protecting the rights of consumers.

Reporter: Thank you very much!

Ha Thanh
(perform)

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