Vietnam-No more meat on motorbikes.

VIETNAM-TRANSPORT OF MEAT AND POULTRY.

Ha Noi People’s Committee officially banned the transportation of poultry and cattle by motorbike, cyclo, bike and other vehicles without engines yesterday.

Poultry and cattle must now be taken by specialised transport licensed by veterinary departments, and must meet specified safety and hygiene standards.

Before being transited from other provinces to Ha Noi and vice versa, slaughtered poultry and cattle must be labelled and packaged, clearly showing the source, the quality standard registration number and the veterinary certificate.

They must be also carried to special facilities and frozen according to regulations set by the local People’s Committees.

Nguyen Thi Ben, a butcher in Thai Ha Market, said: "It will be very difficult for us because we used to carry slaughtered pigs by motorbike to sell at the market. How can we hire another means of transport which meet the standard of Health Ministry when we are only retailers?"

Committee regulations state that poultry and cattle must be slaughtered in slaughtering houses and licensed by the municipal people’s committee.

Slaughtering houses must be surrounded by walls at least two metres high, and must be built according to plans by the municipal People’s Committee which require that they be located far from residential areas, schools, hospitals, industry and toxic areas.

Poultry and cattle must be sold on tables at least 0.5 metres high and must be covered by inox or wood.

"However, as for other food safety and hygiene regulations, I am ready to comply," said Ben.

"We hope that we will get some help from authorities about alternative means of transport so that we can keep running our business," she added.