Nguyen Huu An slaughterhouse (Duc Hoa district, Long An, bordering Ho Chi Minh City) is required to be relocated from early 2022, but to date the facility has not been relocated.
In addition to Nguyen Huu An slaughterhouse, there are currently many other manual slaughterhouses in Duc Hoa district that are also subject to relocation to the planned concentrated slaughterhouse area, planned by Long An province. However, to date, these slaughterhouses have not been relocated, even though the deadline has passed.
Explaining the delay in relocation, Mr. Nguyen Huu An - owner of the Nguyen Huu An manual livestock slaughterhouse - said that the concentrated livestock slaughterhouse planned by the Long An provincial government is located far from the wholesale markets in Ho Chi Minh City. Therefore, bringing pigs and cows here for slaughter will not be convenient for transportation to the wholesale markets, so he has repeatedly requested an extension of the relocation.
Meanwhile, another slaughterhouse owner said that the reason for not wanting to relocate is that locating the slaughterhouse adjacent to Ho Chi Minh City will attract traders from Ho Chi Minh City to bring livestock in for slaughter, then transport them back to Ho Chi Minh City wholesale market for consumption, which will be more profitable.
According to the reporter's investigation, although the Long An provincial government has planned a concentrated livestock slaughterhouse since 2018. However, up to now, preparing to enter 2025, this concentrated slaughterhouse has not yet attracted slaughterhouses to operate.
Reporter of Lao Dong Newspaper talked with Ms. Le Thi Mai Khanh - Head of the Department of Animal Husbandry, Veterinary and Fisheries of Long An province about the reason why many manual slaughterhouses are slow to move to centralized slaughterhouses, affecting the environment and food hygiene and safety.
According to Ms. Khanh, the slow relocation of manual slaughterhouses to centralized slaughterhouses is under the authority and responsibility of the People's Committee of Duc Hoa district; the Department of Animal Husbandry, Veterinary and Aquatic Products of Long An province only has the authority to control slaughter, but does not have the authority to request the relocation of slaughterhouses.
