At the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's regular press conference on 3/7, Mr. Pham Kim Dang, Deputy Director of the Department of Animal Health, stated that Hau Giang's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (now Can Tho's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development) had reprimanded and reassigned the quarantine officer who improperly stamped pig carcasses at the Dung Nga slaughterhouse, which processes meat for C.P. Vietnam.
The officer, a class III animal diagnostician at the Phung Hiep District Animal Health and Aquaculture Station (Hau Giang), was deemed to have committed a first-time offense by not following procedures and professional regulations, resulting in serious consequences, according to Hau Giang’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The Phung Hiep District Animal Health and Aquaculture Station also reviewed the responsibilities of the related management board.
"In the future, we will coordinate with market management and establish a cooperative mechanism with the Environmental Police Department. We will also direct localities to strengthen supervision and review the system of quarantine officers related to slaughterhouses," Mr. Dang said.
 |
Mr. Pham Kim Dang answers questions at the press conference on the morning of 3/7. Photo: Gia Chinh |
Mr. Pham Kim Dang answers questions at the press conference on the morning of 3/7. Photo: Gia Chinh
On 29/6, the investigative police agency (Soc Trang Provincial Police) announced the results of their investigation into a report filed by Mr. Lieu Quy Ngan. The agency decided not to prosecute a criminal case for "Violation of food safety regulations" due to a lack of criminal evidence.
The Department of Animal Health had previously determined that the quarantine officer failed to inspect both sides of the pig carcasses, only stamping one side. Upon discovering numerous inflammatory spots on the other side, indicating a violation of veterinary hygiene standards, the officer did not apply another stamp and ordered the facility owner to destroy the carcasses.
The incorrect slaughter control stamp was applied at 1:00 AM on 26/3/2022. A total of 35 pigs were slaughtered that night, in batches of 5 to 7 pigs.
After the mistake was discovered, the facility owner and C.P. Company staff agreed to clean both sides of the carcasses and process them into fish food. According to reports, the quarantine officer claimed to have supervised the process but "did not prepare a report recording the hygiene status and veterinary handling, instead signing the destruction request from C.P. Company."
In late May, Mr. Lieu Quy Ngan, a former C.P. employee, accused the company of distributing diseased pigs, chickens, and expired products to the market, specifically at the Fresh Shop My Xuyen (Soc Trang). Speaking to VnExpress on 3/6, he questioned why the company didn't destroy the dead pigs at the farm but instead brought them to a private slaughterhouse to be shaved, decapitated, stamped, and butchered. He also expressed his hope that authorities would further investigate the matter to bring it to light.
Gia Chinh
