Nghe An province is strictly handling cases of illegal poultry transportation across the border.

According to media reports and poultry associations, the illegal transportation and trade of poultry and poultry products across the border into Vietnam has recently become quite common and complex in localities sharing borders with other countries, especially in the central and southern provinces. The risk of avian influenza viruses and many other dangerous infectious diseases spreading from abroad is very high, seriously affecting the poultry industry and public health.

In response to this situation, on May 18, 2023, the Prime Minister issued Official Dispatch No. 426/CĐ-TTg, and on May 4, 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued Official Letter No. 2742/BNN-TY on preventing, detecting, and strictly handling cases of illegal trading and transportation of poultry and poultry products across the border into Vietnam.

Following the directives of the Government, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Provincial People's Committee.Nghe AnThe Chairman of the People's Committee of districts, cities, and towns, the directors of departments, and the heads of relevant provincial-level agencies are requested to focus resources and urgently implement the following:

Recently, avian influenza has appeared throughout the country, including Nghe An province. Photo: Xuan Hoang

People's Committees of districts, cities, and towns:Continue to effectively implement disease prevention and control measures.avian influenzaIn accordance with the provisions of the Veterinary Law, guiding documents for the implementation of the Law, and Decision No. 1116/QD-UBND dated April 9, 2019 of the People's Committee of Nghe An province on promulgating the Plan for the prevention and control of avian influenza in Nghe An province for the period 2019-2025.

Strengthen inspection, supervision, and control, especially at border gates, trails, and open areas in border regions and seaports, to promptly detect and strictly handle cases of illegal trading and transportation of poultry and poultry products into the area. In cases where shipments of illegally transported poultry and poultry products are seized, they must be immediately destroyed (samples must be taken and sent to veterinary authorities for disease testing before destruction), and strict measures must be taken against organizations and individuals involved in smuggling poultry and poultry products.

Strengthen information and communication efforts to inform the public about the risks and harms of avian influenza and guide preventive measures so that people are aware and can proactively take action; Encourage people not to participate in or abet illegal trading and transportation of poultry and poultry products.

Review, compile, and report on poultry collection and trading facilities, poultry product trading facilities, and hatching facilities to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development through the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sub-Department before June 5, 2023.

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development:Strengthen inspection, supervision, and direction of districts, cities, and towns in implementing measures to prevent and control avian influenza and control the transportation and trade of poultry and poultry products.

Directing the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine: Strictly implement animal and animal product quarantine; directing the North Nghe An Animal Quarantine Station to strengthen inspection and control of the transportation of animals and animal products into and out of the area.

Proactively inspect and collect samples to monitor the circulation of avian influenza virus in high-risk areas within the province.

Coordinate with relevant agencies and local authorities to handle violations by organizations and individuals in the transportation and trading of poultry and poultry products.

Health service:Proactively guide people in preventing and controlling avian influenza that can be transmitted to humans; coordinate with the Livestock and Veterinary sector and local authorities in monitoring avian influenza outbreaks in poultry and humans to promptly and effectively handle them.

Provincial Border Guard Command:Direct border guard stations to coordinate closely with local authorities and functional forces to strengthen inspection and control of border areas; especially at border gates, trails, and open passages to promptly detect, prevent, and strictly handle the smuggling of poultry and poultry products and other illegal activities as prescribed.

Organize information and communication campaigns to raise awareness among people in border areas about the dangers of avian influenza, the harm caused by trading and transporting unquarantined or unverified poultry; prevent commercial fraud and illegal transportation of poultry and poultry products across the border. Support the destruction of large quantities of poultry and poultry products that must be destroyed to prevent the spread of disease.

Provincial Police:Establish special task forces to combat individuals involved in the smuggling and trading of poultry and poultry products across the border; strengthen inspection and control of poultry and poultry product transportation on traffic routes; coordinate with relevant functional forces and local authorities to arrest and strictly handle cases of poultry and poultry product smuggling, transportation of poultry without clear origin, or without animal quarantine certificates.

Department of Industry and Trade, Market Management Department:Strengthen measures to control circulation, promptly detect and handle cases of illegal transportation and trading of animals and animal products into the province, and poultry and poultry products of unknown origin on the market.

Department of Information and Communications:Direct media agencies to intensify information and propaganda efforts regarding the risks of dangerous infectious diseases entering from abroad through illegal transportation, trade, and consumption of animals and animal products; and to encourage people in border areas not to participate in or abet the transportation and trading of animals and animal products, especially poultry and poultry products, illegally imported into the province.

Relevant provincial departments and agencies:Based on its functions, duties, and powers, the agency shall proactively coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the People's Committees of districts to implement measures to prevent and control livestock and poultry diseases.