Pork export to China remains tough

HANOI – China will carefully check the disease control and quality of pork imported from Vietnam before officially opening up its market, said the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam said on May 30 China had suspended formal pork imports from Vietnam since 2012 due to foot and mouth disease.

During a visit to China in March by a delegation of the ministry, led by Nam, China asked the Vietnamese side to put foot and mouth disease under control and issue certificates of assurance on hygiene and quality before it could lift the ban on pork imports from Vietnam.

Nam told the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture that the disease had already been put under control. However, the two sides will need more time to get pork trade back to normal.

The Vietnamese agriculture ministry has assigned relevant agencies to keep farmers updated on the pork market. In addition, the livestock industry should be restructured towards making high-quality products, so slaughterhouses will have to shift to using advanced equipment and technology.

Livestock authorities are also looking for other markets where food safety and hygiene standards are also high.