May 15, 2006

Pork supplies to Vietnam's largest city affected due to disease

Pork supplies to Ho Chi Minh city, the largest city in Vietnam, were slightly affected as foot-and-mouth disease virtually cut off supplies from one of two provinces.

The number of pigs transported to the Pham Van Hai Market, the biggest pork wholesale market in the city has fallen slightly, said Le Thanh Son, an official from the market management.

The city's supply comes mainly from Dong Nai and Lam Dong provinces. Supplies from the former has been hit due to the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.

Son said that traders in the Pham Van Hai Market are large-scale operations with a reputation to maintain, so they are more likely to ensure that the pork they buy is healthy and traceable.

Pork transported to the market undergoes rigorous inspections. It is checked at least 5 times before being sold to buyers, thus making it unlikely for diseased pork to be sold, a spokesman from an animal health group said.