Vietnam Ministries to Curb Banned Substances in Husbandry, Food

Ministries announced to propose to the National Assembly to prosecute traffickers of banned substances in husbandry and food. Two ministries Agriculture and Rural Development and Public Security showed their determination in finding out traffickers of banned substances in husbandry and food saying that they will submit their proposal to the National Assembly about prosecution these smugglers. It is one of content of a conference on consumers’ health threatened because of using banned substances in husbandry and food held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development with the participation of leaders of agriculture sector in 63 cities and provinces and representatives of the environment police unit (PC49) under the Ministry of Public Security. The conference participants also talked about measures to correct the situation following Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam’s guideline. In the conference, Agriculture Minister Cao Duc Phat expressed his anger by calling using banned substance in husbandry and food a crime. Ms. Dinh Thi Phuong Khanh, a National Assembly deputy and deputy head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Mekong delta province of Long An, proposed to prosecute those who traffic banned substances to deter them from wrongdoings. There is a loophole in present law as there is no prosecution for them. Supporting prosecuting traffickers, Colonel Tran Trong Binh from PC49 said that as there is no law of the crime, police can not prosecute these dishonest traders. Minister Cao Duc Phat said that the ministry’s related agencies collected 1,000 food samples all contaminated with Salbutamol; accordingly he proposed to trace the ring to smuggle the substance. Mr. Phat said that a hot line will be publicized which people can provide information of these companies and farms to use the banned substances. Additionally, the minister also offer a reward for those who denounce information relating to banned substance trafficking. (Saigon Giai Phong – Liberated Saigon Nov 6)