July 20, 2007

Pig breeders in Vietnam's central provinces flouting bans

Although Vietnam's Quang Nam province has banned the slaughter and sale of pigs, pig sellers can still be seen transporting pigs in and out of the province, greatly increasing the chances of blue-ear disease spreading, local media reported. 

Pig breeders are trying desperately to offload as many pigs as possible now that the epidemic had spread there.

For the past 5 days pig breeders had been busy killing pigs and racing to remote villages to sell them - even transporting them on motorbikes.

While there is a law banning pig movement, there are numerous ways to evade inspectors, pig breeders said.

Although pig slaughter has been banned since July 16, pork was still being sold freely in many markets three days later in the Da Nang city area.

Another more disturbing trend is heard to be occurring in Thang Binh district, where people have been digging up dead pigs for their bones and meat to sell to restaurants.