VietNamNet Bridge – Hanoi has invested a million US dollars in modern abattoirs but these facilities are not fully used. Hanoians still have to eat meat supplied by illegal, unhygienic abattoirs.

This is the information released by the Veterinary Department at a conference on July 25 in Hanoi.

According to the department, there are 28,285 slaughterhouses in Vietnam, including 11,485 facilities in 12 northern provinces. However, only 929 of 11,485 abattoirs in the northern region are under the control of veterinary agencies.

In Hanoi, many modern abattoirs which are worth a million US dollars are used moderately. Three industrial abattoirs with daily capacity of 400-1,000 pigs only process 20-30 pigs/day. Most of the meat volume in the market is provided by private, unhygienic slaughterhouses.

At present, 36 out of 63 provinces and cities in Vietnam have approved slaughterhouse system plans. Twenty-one others are working on the plans and six provinces do not have such a plan yet, including Yen Bai, Nam Dinh, Bac Kan, Cao Bang, Tuyen Quang and Bac Giang, all in northern Vietnam.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, northern provinces take loose control over slaughtering activities, compared to southern provinces. Loose management has facilitated the operation of illegal abattoirs, the distribution of ill cattle and poultry, affecting consumer health.

Compiled by Le Ha