January 10, 2007

Live chicken sales continue in Vietnam in spite of nationwide ban

Market vendors across the Hanoi capital are still selling live chickens despite a nationwide ban designed to prevent the spread of bird flu, according to health agencies tasked by the government in overseeing illegal poultry trade.

Inspectors uncovered the sales - often conducted under banners advertising "safe chickens" - during checks in preparation for Tet or the Lunar New Year.

The Government stepped up regulations governing the sale of live poultry following the outbreak of avian flu in two southern provinces late last year. This did not, however, stop vendors in the Kim Lien, Truong Dinh, Mo and Quynh Mai markets from slaughtering birds on site, health inspectors found.

The health checks were conducted on 527 food vendors and processing plants and fined seventeen sellers and processors of VND7.7 million or nearly US$500 for violating regulations. Almost 70 kilogrammes of

processed chicken and 1,000 eggs were destroyed.

To help control the illegal trade into Hanoi, the city has arranged checkpoints in Doc La and Ngoc Hoi. Six more checkpoints will be set-up later this month, including centres at the Chui and Thang Long bridges and in Ha Tay Province. A survey showed about 20 percent of vehicles carrying poultry stop at checkpoints have evaded officials or were able to hide their cargo.

Nguyen Viet Cuong, chief inspector for the Health Department, said the number of health inspectors is limited and his unit could not control all food sold in the capital.

He said the implementation and total control of trade should be the local government's responsibility.