February 16, 2010
Vietnam to import only registered animal feeds
The government of Vietnam announced recently that only animal feeds registered under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) will be allowed in the country.
Decree No 08/210/ND-CP, which will take effect on March 25, will authorise the confiscation of unlawful feeds being imported into the country. The government assured that farmers suffering losses would be compensated.
The decree will ban the production, sale and distribution of feeds not on the ministry's approved list and will provide for strict penalties for misleading advertising of such feeds.
Further, domestic feed producers will be required to employ laboratories for quality testing, to maintain wastewater treatment systems and keep production logs for at least three years.
The decree set forth packaging, labeling storage and transportation requirements. Vietnam imports up to US$1.5-billion worth of animal feed per year, and the agricultural sector is highly dependent on imports and vulnerable to price fluctuations.
Vietnam currently has over 300 feed plants in operation.