This is an important legal foundation aimed at promoting law enforcement in environment protection activities and veterinary work, as well as helping farmer households expand production. Farmers in the Mekong Delta region expressed their delight at the move, but local authorities and functional agencies in many localities are still faced with certain difficulties.

In implementation of MARD’s decision, Hau Giang province has mapped out a plan to develop a sustainable breeding industry. The provincial veterinary department has provided techniques to help farmers ensure safe poultry breeding, and asked them to strictly follow regulations on vaccination. Currently, Hau Giang has more than 70 waterfowl hatching farms.

An Giang province has 370 households raising more than 300,000 free-range waterfowl. The provincial veterinary department has also intensified inspection of waterfowl hatching farms and provided assistance to farmers in the transport of newly-hatched poultry.

In addition, other provinces like Bac Lieu, Kien Giang and Ca Mau have also implemented measures to create favourable conditions for farmers to resume their poultry breeding activities.

At present, the total number of poultry in the Mekong Delta region has reached tens of millions. However, the bird flu epidemic has recurred in Vinh Long province and is likely to spread widely in the region. Hence, it is essential to strictly implement sterilization and vaccination procedures, as well as strictly control the transport and slaughtering of poultry in order to prevent bird flu recurrence and ensure the breeding industry’s sustainable development in Mekong Delta provinces.

Meanwhile, the Veterinary Department has asked localities to import two million doses of vaccine in mid-March this year.

*** Waterfowl breeding to be resumed in mid-March

The MARD has announced new regulations on hatching and breeding waterfowl in order to resume the breeding on March 15.

The new regulations, made public at a conference in southern Tay Ninh province on March 5, stipulated conditions for domestic and foreign establishments and individuals to recover their business related to water-fowl hatching and breeding.

All incubators, farms with intensive cultivation, breeding households, and breeders of ducks on rice fields will have to observe all regulations of registration, hygienic safety, sterilization and vaccination.

MARD Deputy Minister Bui Ba Bong said that Vietnam has so far controlled the bird flu, though the risk of its return still exists, and that with the efficiency of vaccination and the improved awareness of breeders over the past two years, a decision to resume the waterfowl breeding at this time is necessary.