January 4, 2007

Smuggled poultry flooding Vietnam market

Vietnam is again facing another poultry problem as illegally traded chickens from China are now flooding the local market.

According to Vietnam News Bridge, several tonnes of smuggled poultry daily enter the Lang Son border gate.

Do Van Duoc, Head of the Lan Son provincial Veterinary Agency, said the contraband could not be prevented as China-sourced chickens are much cheaper.

A kilogramme of Chinese chicken is sold from VND10,000 (US$0.62) to VND20,000 (US$1.24) as against the average price of Vietnamese chicken at VND50,000 (US$3.11) per kilogramme.

Duoc added chickens from China are "rejects" as they could not anymore lay eggs, thus, inexpensive.

The contraband is sold in the main roads of Highway1A, Lang Son province including Le Loi and Tran Dang Ninh.

Hoang Van Son, Deputy Head of the Lang Son Market Control Taskforce admits having difficulty in controlling the influx of illegal consignments despite their efforts to curb the unlawful trade. 

Local authorities also seized 1.2 tonnes of the prohibited Chinese chicken in the province of Quang Ninh on end-December.

Truong said that provincial agencies were keeping strict control on the overland routes linking Mong Cai border gate, Hoang Mo, Bac Phong Sinh, Highway 18 and neighbouring provinces.