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Unhygienic Pork, Tampered Seals Plague Hanoi's Meat Quarantine System

Unhygienic Pork, Tampered Seals Plague Hanoi's Meat Quarantine System

From Thanh Niên · (44m ago) Vietnamese Critical tone

Translated from Vietnamese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Authorities are investigating alleged corruption and laxity in the meat quarantine system in Hanoi, Vietnam, where trucks carrying pork are reportedly operating with tampered inspection seals.
  • Traders and slaughterhouses are accused of self-stamping quarantine seals, bypassing proper veterinary checks, and transporting meat under unsanitary conditions to city markets before dawn.
  • A Thanh Niên investigation found instances where veterinary officials allegedly left their posts early and allowed others to use their official stamps, indicating a breakdown in regulatory oversight.

A disturbing investigation by Thanh Niên has uncovered a deeply troubling situation within Hanoi's meat quarantine system, revealing a rampant disregard for public health and safety. Our reporters have witnessed "convoys" of motorcycles and three-wheeled vehicles transporting pork carcasses, often crudely covered, through dusty roads towards city markets before sunrise, raising immediate concerns about hygiene and traceability.

Xe máy nối đuôi nhau chở thịt lợn vào nội thành Hà Nội

— Thanh NiênDescribing the scene of pork being transported into Hanoi.

The core of the problem appears to lie in the compromised quarantine process at slaughterhouses. At a facility in Chuong My district, overseen by veterinary forces, our investigation found that the quarantine inspection (K.S.G.M) stamp was being used arbitrarily by traders themselves. After self-stamping the meat, they would then collect receipts and pay fees to an individual, often without any direct veterinary supervision present at the site. This blatant circumvention of official procedures suggests a systemic failure in oversight.

Cơ sở giết mổ hoạt động sôi động nhất từ 3 - 6 giờ và từ 13 - 15 giờ 30 phút hằng ngày.

— Thanh NiênDetailing the operational hours of the slaughterhouse.

Further compounding these issues, our undercover reporting revealed instances where veterinary officials allegedly abandoned their posts early, even asking individuals associated with the slaughterhouse to stamp the meat and issue receipts in their stead. This abdication of responsibility is not just a dereliction of duty; it poses a significant threat to public health, potentially allowing diseased or unsanitary meat to enter the food supply chain. The casualness with which these regulations are being flouted is alarming.

Tự giới thiệu là người từ nơi khác đến mua thịt nhưng chúng tôi bị người nhà chủ lò mổ từ chối với lý do không bán lẻ, phải mua nguyên con.

— Thanh NiênRecounting an attempt to gain access to the slaughterhouse.

From our perspective at Thanh Niên, this situation is unacceptable. The health and well-being of the citizens of Hanoi are being jeopardized by a system riddled with corruption and negligence. We urge the relevant authorities to take immediate and decisive action to rectify these deficiencies, ensure strict adherence to quarantine protocols, and hold accountable all individuals, including officials, who are complicit in endangering public health. This is not merely a matter of procedural oversight; it is a critical issue of food safety and public trust that demands urgent attention.

Trong khoảng 5 phút, chúng tôi ghi nhận hơn 10 xe máy đến chở thịt lợn và có 3 thương lái tự ý đóng dấu kiểm dịch.

— Thanh NiênObserving traders self-stamping meat.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Thanh Niên in Vietnamese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.