Strengthen solutions to prevent illegal hunting of swiftlets

Swiftlets were officially recognized as livestock animals in the Livestock Law in 2018. In recent times, the bird’s nest farming industry has developed strongly; Up to now, 42/63 provinces and centrally run cities have raised bird’s nests with over 24,000 bird’s nest houses, output of 120 – 150 thousand tons/year, value of over 500 million USD, creating many jobs. and a large source of income for people. Vietnam is one of four countries (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand) approved by China to officially export bird’s nest products.

However, according to the report of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and feedback from a number of relevant agencies, the current management of swiftlet farming still has some shortcomings and shortcomings, specifically: (i ) The development of swiftlet farming facilities is mainly spontaneous, not in accordance with the law on animal husbandry, causing difficulties for management and reducing investment efficiency; (ii) Extermination of bird nest hunting occurs in many localities, causing a decline in bird nest populations both in the wild and at farming facilities, causing frustration in public opinion; (iii) The preliminary processing and processing of bird’s nest products is mainly fragmented and small, and does not fully meet the food safety requirements of the importing country.

To urgently overcome the above shortcomings and shortcomings and promote official export of bird’s nest products, the Prime Minister requested Ministers and Chairmen of People’s Committees of provinces and centrally run cities to The central government needs to focus and prioritize resources, proactively direct and deploy drastically and synchronously the following solutions:

Chairman of the People’s Committee of provinces and centrally-run cities : Direct the authorities in the area to drastically and synchronously deploy solutions to prevent and stop illegal hunting of swiftlets, which focuses on: (i) organizing propaganda and mobilizing people not to hunt and consume swiftlets, and promptly denounce acts of illegal swiftlet hunting; (ii) regularly organize forces to inspect, prevent, dismantle and recover illegal traps and capture devices and equipment; (iii) strictly handle illegal acts of hunting, trapping, transporting and consuming swiftlets; Organize a complete crackdown on illegal trading of wild birds and swiftlets in the area.

Urgently advise the Provincial People’s Council to consider and decide on swiftlet farming areas in accordance with the provisions of Decree No. 13/2020/ND-CP dated January 21, 2020 detailing the Law on Animal Husbandry.

Organize guidance and inspection of declaration of bird’s nest farming facilities, registration of bird’s nest farming facility codes in accordance with legal regulations on animal husbandry to serve management and traceability according to the guidance of the Ministry of Agriculture Industry and Rural Development.

Direct local specialized agencies to organize effective prevention and control of poultry diseases; Deploying the construction of disease-free breeding facilities and areas, minimizing the risk of disease spreading to swiftlet flocks; Direct the work of ensuring food safety during the production, harvesting, transportation and processing of bird’s nest products locally.

At the same time, promote scientific research, information technology application, digital transformation in farming, disease prevention and control, swiftlet farming management, ensuring traceability and food safety requirements, Meet the export requirements of bird’s nest products.

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development:  Presides and coordinates with ministries, branches and localities to review and improve mechanisms, policies and regulations in the management of farming, processing and exporting products from organizations. Yen, resolutely cut unnecessary administrative procedures that cause trouble for people and businesses, promote decentralization and decentralization of power to localities along with allocating resources and having inspection tools. , control.

Soon issue specific instructions and related standards to create favorable conditions for localities to organize production along the value chain, ensuring disease safety, food safety and product traceability. according to the requirements of the importing country.

Building a database for livestock facility management; Prioritize allocating resources and funding to build an information management system and online database related to establishments raising, exploiting and processing bird’s nest products to serve biosafety and safety monitoring. disease prevention, food safety and traceability for export of bird’s nest products.

Proactively and actively coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnamese Embassies in other countries and relevant agencies, striving to complete the assessment and export of bird’s nest products to China in 2023 and promote Expand official exports to other markets.

Ministry of Industry and Trade:  Proactively research markets in other countries, promote the introduction and promotion of bird’s nest products through trade promotion activities and programs abroad, and at the same time support Vietnamese businesses to promote bird’s nest products. Strongly export bird’s nest products to foreign markets.

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment:  Direct and guide the management and protection of swiftlet species according to the Prime Minister’s direction in Directive No. 04/CT-TTg dated May 17, 2022.; Coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the People’s Committees of provinces and centrally run cities to direct and organize inspections, promptly detect and strictly handle cases of illegal bird hunting. .

Ministry of Public Security:  Direct the environmental police force to strengthen measures to fight, prevent and strictly handle violations of the law on hunting, killing, transporting, trading, processing and storing , consuming wild birds, including swiftlets.

Relevant ministries and branches,  according to their assigned functions and tasks, proactively direct specialized authorities to coordinate in drastically and synchronously deploying solutions to manage swiftlet farming and promote the export of bird products. bird’s nest products to other countries.