Origin of much pork untraceable

Pork is on sale at Binh Dien market in HCMC - PHOTO: HOANG TRIEU

HCMC – The origin of four-fifths of pork at HCMC’s Binh Dien wholesale market, which consumes a majority of pork from other provinces, is still unknown despite the city authority is pushing for pork traceability.

The ratio of pork with traceability tags which is imported into HCMC from other provinces has shown signs of standing still. It is as low as 21% at Binh Dien wholesale market, according to the HCMC Department of Industry and Trade.

A report by the department says, “Wholesalers at Binh Dien market still take delivery of pork from (neighboring) Long An Province even though it wears no traceability tags.”

The department has proposed the city government order the Food Safety Management Board to conduct quick tests of pork samples to find whether they contain microorganisms and banned substances. Vendors should be sanctioned if the pork they sell has no traceability tags, the department suggested.

The department also proposed the Food Safety Management Board launch campaigns to call for canteens at hospitals, schools and industrial parks to use pork with clear origin.

The department said it would work with other agencies like the Department of Health, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Food Safety Management Board to make the origin of other produce traceable.

In the long term, all produce will have clear origin thanks to the traceability program, according the department.

HCMC kickstarted a traceability plan for poultry meat and eggs in early July, just six months after the launch of the pork traceability plan.

The plan allows consumers to directly check and get full information about poultry products they buy.