Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
Cao Duc Phat has called for increased publicity concerning the use of steroids
used to produce unnaturally heavy pigs so that residents shun the hazardous
meat.
“This
is an evil crime and not simply a violation of law,” the Nguoi Lao Dong
Newspaper quoted him as saying.
An
investigation by Thanh Nien found that the use of β- agonist growth-promoting
hormones to raise swine was widespread.
Popular
forms of the agent are clenbuterol and salbutamol, which were designed to treat
asthma and lung conditions, but only under strict supervision.
The
drug can raise the heart rate and blood pressure, causing digestive disorders
and various other diseases.
Nguyen
Xuan Duong, deputy head of the Husbandry Department at Vietnam’s Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Development said eating pork containing the agent could
lead to neurological problems and cancer.
A
recent survey by Duong’s agency found a significant proportion of pork
contained the dangerous chemicals.
Up to 43
percent of pig urine and 24 percent of pork taken from many slaughterhouses in
Ho Chi Minh City had the β- agonist, the agency found.
Minister
Phat said the situation was “alarming” and the use of illegal chemicals in
husbandry must be taken as seriously as other drug offences.
According
to Nguoi Lao Dong, the illegal chemicals have been extensively used by up to
half of farmers in Dong Nai Province. The proportion is between 20-25 percent
in Ba Ria Vung Tau, 10 percent in Binh Duong and 5 percent in Tay Ninh.
A pig
trader in Dong Nai said the illegal chemicals arrive from China packed
into unlabeled parcels between 20-50
kilograms. Smuggling them into Vietnam has involved hiding the product among
agriculture powders and other legal entities, he said. Nguyen Tri Cong,
chairman of Dong Nai Husbandry Association, said his agency has coordinated
with related ones to inspect for the use of the chemicals and has been
threatened by many pig traders.
“They
warned us to restrain our inspections or risk being killed,” he said.
Duong
of the husbandry department said according to the Penal Code, farmers who use
the illegal chemicals may be imprisoned for three to five years. They also face
fines between VND10-50 million (US$480-2,400).
“Legal
penalties exist. The question is whether
local authorities will be sufficiently determined to enforce the regulations,”
he said.
According
to Duong, the agriculture ministry will coordinate with the Ministry of Public
Security, the Health Ministry and relevant agencies to conduct more inspections
against illegal distribution and use of the chemicals.
By
Thanh Nien News
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