October 5, 2011

Vietnam to lift ban on US beef imports

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has lifted its ban on US beef imports, the Sai Gon Tiep Thi newspaper reported Monday (Oct 3).

PM Dung requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to inform the US Embassy in Vietnam that the Southeast Asian country is ready to re-open its door to US beef products.  He also ordered the Ministry of Health to settle down issues relating to food safety to soon re-allow importing beef from the US.

Vietnam had suspended beef import from the US since December 2003 when a number of food poisoning caused by cow mad disease was reported.

In May, the US's Senate issued a resolution calling on China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam and Mexico to open market for its beef. The US has implemented strict safety system to produce beef, the Senate said.

A delegation of the US's Department of Agriculture (USDA) led by Acting Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse, visited Vietnam in a move to boost agricultural exports to Vietnam from September 26-29.

Since 2006, Vietnam has grown as one of major US agricultural export market, playing a driver for the US and helping to support more than 28,000 jobs.

Two-way agricultural, fish and forestry trade between the US and Vietnam reached nearly US$3.4 billion in 2010.