On August 15, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha worked with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and relevant ministries and branches on the situation of African swine fever.
At the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine to review the entire animal health organization system from the Ministry - Department - Sub-Department - Provincial level to the commune level, and veterinary stations.
In particular, it is necessary to clearly identify the responsibilities of each level, especially in the context that many localities have merged administrative units, streamlined the apparatus, and many communes and wards no longer have enough specialized human resources.
" any locality that does not properly implement regulations on organizing veterinary forces, does not arrange enough personnel and organizations must be clearly stated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, not general", said the Deputy Prime Minister.
The Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department is responsible for updating and developing new guidelines on vaccination in accordance with the reality of existing African swine fever virus strains, even without a full vaccine; clearly defining the process of reporting, zoning, disease prevention, hygiene and control, destruction, supporting people, determining responsibilities to each commune, ward and individual level.
"When an outbreak occurs and there is a suitable vaccine, vaccination must be considered an emergency measure. The State is responsible for funding and supporting farmers if livestock die after vaccination; having support policies for destruction, cleaning of barns, chemicals, new varieties... for people to cooperate," said the Deputy Prime Minister.
The Deputy Prime Minister requested strict handling of acts of deliberately spreading epidemics (selling, releasing sick pigs...), considering this a serious violation of the law, adding strong sanctions, including criminal handling. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment must coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security to develop relevant regulations.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is assigned to review and clearly define the responsibilities of slaughterhouses from the stage of receiving products to when they are on the market, ensuring hygiene and disease safety.
Next week, the Deputy Prime Minister requested the organization of interdisciplinary working groups ( departments of veterinary medicine, food hygiene and safety, police, market management, local authorities, etc.) to inspect a number of slaughterhouses that did not meet requirements, coordinate handling, and even close them. At the same time, tighten regulations on the transportation of slaughter products, ensuring food safety and hygiene.
The Ministry of Public Security, Border Guard, and Customs coordinate to strictly control goods, food, and animals across the border, especially illegal imports, and strictly handle cases of putting infected animals and products for consumption.
Immediately after the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to implement the directives; review the veterinary organization system from the central to the grassroots level, immediately issue improvement instructions; report to the Government before September 15 on the epidemic prevention and control plan for livestock, poultry, and seafood, based on the model of responding to African swine fever.
"These are key and urgent contents. I request that comrades resolutely implement, not let the epidemic spread, protect production, people's lives and food safety", the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.
