Outlining roadmap toward eliminating dog and cat meat trade

Establishing “policy laboratories” in dog and cat meat trade hotspots

To reduce and ultimately eliminate the dog and cat meat trade in line with the goal of rabies elimination by 2030, Viet Nam needs to review and refine policies and legislation; strengthen enforcement and ensure consistent implementation guidance; improve dog and cat population management and rabies vaccination; intensify communication and public awareness; and, at the same time, research and roll out livelihood transition solutions suited to real-world conditions.

On 27 January, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment convened the Third Technical Meeting of the Companion Animals Technical Working Group under the One Health Partnership (OHP), focusing on coordinated implementation of the initiative “A Roadmap Toward Reducing and Progressively Eliminating the Dog and Cat Meat Trade in Viet Nam.”

Chairing the meeting, Mr. Phan Quang Minh noted that free-roaming dogs and cats remain common, herd management is highly limited, and disease risks, particularly rabies, remain high. At the same time, there are persistent concerns related to animal welfare, food safety, and the illegal interprovincial and cross-border trade and transport of dogs and cats. While existing legislation such as the Law on Animal Health and the Law on Livestock Production includes relevant provisions, he acknowledged that translating these regulations into concrete action at the grassroots level remains challenging. Enforcement sanctions are not yet strong enough, and communication and awareness-raising at district and commune levels are still very limited.

Against this backdrop, Mr. Phan Quang Minh emphasized that companion animal issues are not solely the responsibility of the veterinary sector. They are closely linked to public health, environmental management, local authorities, media, and community engagement. Effective solutions require a shared understanding from central to local levels, a clearly defined roadmap, pilot models, adequate resources, and robust intersectoral coordination mechanisms.

Co-chairing the meeting, Mr. Matt Backhouse, Regional Head of Stray Animal Care Program, Southeast Asia, FOUR PAWS International, stressed the need for a comprehensive, structured, and feasible roadmap to gradually reduce and ultimately end the dog and cat meat trade in Viet Nam. This roadmap, he said, must be firmly grounded in the interconnections between animal welfare, public health, and the One Health approach. According to Mr. Backhouse, the issue is not merely ethical or cultural in nature, but a complex governance challenge that requires sustained coordination among government institutions, local authorities, civil society organizations, and communities.

FOUR PAWS proposed providing evidence-based technical support, including reviews of the existing legal framework and synthesis of lessons learned from pilot models, to support policy adjustments grounded in scientific evidence. In parallel, the organization emphasized the need to establish consultation and coordination mechanisms, particularly multidisciplinary technical working groups and intersectoral coordination platforms, so that policies can be piloted, monitored, and refined through training and capacity building for relevant stakeholders.

Mr. Backhouse further noted that the mere existence of regulations is insufficient. Current provisions must be clarified, and detailed implementation guidelines developed for the trade, transport, and slaughter of dogs and cats, as well as for hygiene and food safety requirements. FOUR PAWS recommended targeted training programs for local veterinary services and enforcement agencies to strengthen practical knowledge and on-the-ground response capacity. At the same time, intersectoral enforcement activities and coordination mechanisms need to be enhanced to ensure timely detection, prevention, and handling of violations at the grassroots level.

Another key focus was the development of model localities, described as “policy laboratories” designed to generate tangible change. Pilot areas should be selected from hotspots of dog and cat meat trade, regions with high rabies risk, and locations where local authorities demonstrate strong political commitment.

Within the One Health framework, humane dog and cat population management and vaccination were identified as foundational interventions.

In discussing animal quarantine practices for imports and exports, representatives of the Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health noted that border quarantine systems are relatively well organized through regional sub-departments. Quarantine officers closely monitor clinical health status, quarantine documentation, rabies risk, highly pathogenic avian influenza, and mandatory vaccination requirements for dogs, cats, and ornamental birds. However, these operations are under increasing pressure due to the nature of companion animals traveling with owners on flights at any time of day, requiring round-the-clock staffing despite limited human resources and a growing workload.

With regard to domestic animal transport, the Department candidly acknowledged this as a major bottleneck. Most interprovincial transport of dogs and cats currently occurs without quarantine certificates, while household-owned dogs and cats are largely unregistered and unmanaged as populations. Grassroots veterinary services are understaffed and overburdened with multiple responsibilities, while diagnostic equipment and funding for disease surveillance in dogs and cats remain limited. The largely spontaneous nature of dog and cat trade and transport, occurring along multiple interprovincial routes, further complicates effective control.

The representative also highlighted significant challenges related to public perception. Many people still view dogs and cats solely as pets that do not require quarantine like livestock or poultry. In reality, companion animals can carry and transmit serious diseases such as rabies, leptospirosis, parasites, and may even contribute to the spread of antimicrobial resistance genes. Interprovincial transport, especially from outbreak or high-risk areas, substantially increases the risk of widespread disease transmission.

Transitioning away from the dog and cat meat trade

Drawing on the experience of the project “Pilot Models for Rabies Prevention and Sustainable Economic Development - Gradually Transitioning the Dog and Cat Meat Trade in Selected Wards of Hanoi,” Mr. Can Xuan Minh from the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment recommended the issuance of a unified legal framework governing the management, transport, and slaughter of dogs and cats. He further proposed assigning the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment as the coordinating focal point, developing area-specific transition roadmaps linked to livelihood support, and mobilizing socialized resources.

On international experience, Mr. Karanvir Kukreja, Consultant on Ending the Dog and Cat Meat Trade with Humane World for Animals, presented the Republic of Korea’s model for designing and implementing a roadmap to end dog meat consumption through a clear legal framework and appropriate transition support. Key success factors included shifts in social attitudes, strong political leadership, pressure from civil society, and the design of a time-bound roadmap accompanied by transition assistance for those working in the sector. Korea’s experience shows that when clear legislation is combined with reporting, monitoring, and enforcement mechanisms, implementation becomes both realistic and effective.

Based on both domestic and international practices, participants agreed that the development of a national roadmap must be grounded in scientific evidence, ensure feasibility, follow a phased and flexible approach, and be tailored to the specific conditions of each country and locality.