Justice Ministry deems Hanoi’s livestock rules impractical

Chickens transported on a motorbike in Hanoi The Ministry of Justice Friday asked Hanoi to reconsider its recent regulations on slaughtering, transporting and trading poultry and cattle, saying parts of it are “baseless”.

The regulation, which took effect on Monday, bans people from transporting poultry and other livestock on motorbikes, bicycles and pedicabs. They are also not allowed to transport the animals into the city center either. Le Hong Son, head of the ministry’s bureau for testing legal documents, said the bans were “somewhat baseless.” He also said the regulation, which was issued on January 22 by Hanoi People’s Committee, includes orders that are “impractical at present.” This could cause people to do whatever they want, he said. According to the regulation, abattoirs must be built under the committee’s approval, have separate storing and slaughtering sections, a place for workers to clean themselves, a standard waste treatment plant and waterproof flooring. Cattle and poultry product stores should be at least six square meters large and booths at the market at least three square meters, with the meat products placed on stainless steel, enameled tile or quality wood not lower than 0.8 meters from the floor. Experts have agreed these rules can help prevent dangerous epidemics like avian influenza, mouth-and-hoof and blue ear diseases but argued they don’t suit the country’s current conditions. Most slaughtering houses and means of transport currently in use are simple and selling places are often crowded, they said. Son said the regulation “needs to be reconsidered to ensure legal interests of residents involved in the poultry and livestock business.” Luu Tien Long, director of Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade, Friday said the city’s Department of Justice had been consulted on the regulation. Long said the city may add supplementary provisions to the regulation, including allowing people to use motorbikes for animals weighing up to 100 kilograms. Vietnam has seen increasing incidence of fowl and cattle related diseases in recent years. This year, the southernmost province of Ca Mau has reported an epidemic of the avian flu, affecting thousands of ducks. An eight year old girl from northern Thanh Hoa Province was diagnosed with bird flu recently, sparking fears it could spread widely among human beings. The girl has since recovered. Bird flu has killed 52 people in Vietnam since 2003, while the highest toll in the world has been recorded in Indonesia with 113 fatalities.